They built a marriage to last

The couple married on June 28, 1924; raised three children while living downstate; and relocated to Ashland, just outside Windham, on the day he retired as a draftsman in 1965.

This weekend, George and Ginny will celebrate their 75th wedding anniversary with a special Mass at St. Therese of the Child Jesus Church in Windham, where they are parishioners. Among those expected to attend are the couple's three children, 12 grandchildren, 15 great-grandchildren and one great-great-grandchild.

Ginny can't explain why her 75-year marriage has worked or how she and her husband have been able to raise such a close, loving family. "It's unbelievable. I have no secret. It's up to the Lord," she told The Evangelist.

First meeting

Ginny's Aunt Sue had a son, John, who played baseball with George. After a game, he brought George to the house when Ginny was there, but George didn't notice her.

"That's when I saw him, and he didn't even look at me," she said.

Dance connection

"When I got to the party, I danced with Virginia and didn't even dance with my girl," George said.

The party ended, but George didn't want that to be the last time he saw Ginny. "Before he left the party with his so-called girlfriend, he said, 'Will you go out with me sometime?'" Ginny recalled.

She mentioned him to her mother, who thought George already was seeing a girl. Eventually, they began dating; and on June 28, 1924, they married at St. Benedict's Church in Throgs Neck.

Family life

"To me, it wasn't work," Ginny said. "It was my home, my husband and my kids. This was my life."

Meanwhile, George completed his course work at Pratt Institute, worked for an electric storage battery company until 1943 and then worked as a draftsman for the rest of his career.

Coming north

On their visits to Ashland, Ginny fell in love with the countryside and wanted to live there in her senior years. She also had a specific floor plan in mind for the house where they'd live.

"I just wanted to look from the kitchen to the living room, and to look out and see the woods," she said.

Sure enough, George followed her orders in drawing the plans for their house, which has a kitchen that's open to the living room. There's also a gorgeous view of the wooded mountains along Route 23 where they live.

Faith together

"I'm very fond of them," he said. "I use them as an example in preparing couples for marriage: the care, love and concern they have for one another."

The Wiegands' daughter Frances contacted Father Doyle to find out if the Albany Diocese would honor her parents for their 75th wedding anniversary. He mentioned the diocesan Marriage Jubilee in October, but he thought it would be nice if the parish celebrated the occasion, as well. Last Saturday, George and Ginny were recognized at an open house for parishioners and friends at a restaurant in Windham.

This Saturday, Father Doyle will celebrate Mass at St. Therese's for George and Ginny and their family, followed by a dinner at another restaurant.

Time flies

"You have to have patience," Ginny said.

To which George replied: "That's what's kept us together so many years. Ginny has the patience. I don't."

(06-24-99) [[In-content Ad]]