April 6, 2018 at 1:53 p.m.

They built a marriage to last


By PAUL QUIRINI- | Comments: 0 | Leave a comment

George Wiegand met his future wife, Virginia, at a New Year's Eve Party in 1919. Woodrow Wilson was president, World War I had just ended with the signing of the Treaty of Versailles and Babe Ruth led the American League with 29 home runs -- for the Boston Red Sox.

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

Born in Harlem in 1904, Ginny spent most of her youth in Wakefield after her family moved there when she was two years old. George was born in 1900 in the Bronx; he was four when his father died. His mother cared for the four children and her aging mother by herself.

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

Three years later, George was invited to a New Year's Eve party, and Ginny was there again. He brought a date but didn't pay her much attention after watching Ginny cut the rug.

"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

Ginny had worked at a beauty parlor in Bloomingdale's before marrying George, but she decided to become a full-time mother after their wedding. Their first child, George Jr., was born a year after they married, and he was followed by John and Frances over the next five years.

"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

The Wiegands lived in Wakefield after they married, followed by Rosedale and Flushing before finally settling in Ashland after George retired.

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

George and Ginny have been active members of St. Therese's, and they used to collect new items for the parish auction. He still drives her to church for Mass, and Rev. Donald Doyle, pastor, is amazed at how long they have lived as a happily married, religious couple.

"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

For Ginny, being married for 75 years has been a truly wonderful gift, and the time has flown, believe it or not.

"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."

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