Sherwood couple Mario and Maria Laurenti have revealed their secret to 69 years of happy marriage as they celebrated their wedding anniversary at HC-One’s Acacia care home in Sherwood, Nottingham.
Having originally met in their hometown or Terni, Italy when Mario was 13 and Maria was ten, the pair lived on the same street and admit that they used to fight as children.
However, when Mario returned to Terni six years later after attending agricultural college, the pair crossed paths again and fell in love immediately.
After the pair hit it off, Mario had to ask his prospective in-laws for Maria’s hand in marriage before he was allowed to court her. The couple married a year later in St Valentino’s Church on 1st October 1950 and went on to have two sons before moving to England, where they then had two daughters.
The Laurenti family went on to expand further, as Mario and Maria now have 11 grandchildren and 8 great grandchildren.
When asked their secret to a long and happy marriage, the pair revealed that they love and accept one another, eat plenty of cheese, drink lots of wine and if they argue, they always make up before going to bed.
In recognition of their 69th wedding anniversary, Colleagues at Acacia care home filled the lounge with balloons, bunting, flowers and cards as Mario and Maria’s loved ones joined the party.
Georgina Jackson, Home Manager at Acacia, said: “Mario and Maria are a lovely couple and a true inspiration to everyone working and living in our home. It was a pleasure to help them celebrate their anniversary at Acacia as they made even more special memories together with their family and friends.”