Love through the eyes of the elderly

THE residents of Mothwa Haven were dressed in their Sunday best, or rather Valentine’s Day best, as they celebrated the day of love. Some of the home’s oldest married couples shared with Berea Mail how special Valentine’s Day is to them with some love birds having been in love for more than five decades.

Chaperones celebrated their 66th Valentine’s Day

After a chance meeting back in 1956, through Cornelia Chaperone’s sister, Phillip and Cornelia decided the chance meeting was fate and would eventually tie the knot in 1958, 18 months after their first meeting.

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Some 66 years later, the couple, now aged 85 and 87, are still inseparable as they spend their golden days at Mothwa Haven, still very much in love. The Chaperones have lived in Durban for most of their lives. Cornelia worked as a teacher while Phillip worked as a national manager for Nampak and also worked at Wentworth Hospital for 14 years.

They have two sons together, four grandchildren and four great-grandchildren. When asked what attracted them to each other in the first place, and what has kept their marriage solid for so long, Cornelia was quick to say, “I thought he was the most handsome-looking man I had ever seen. And the way he dressed and carried himself was just enough for me to tell what kind of a man he was. And over the years, he proved me right as he treated me with the utmost respect and kindness my heart has ever known.”

“She was and continues to be a priority. Nothing else comes close to what she means to me, and that’s what has made our marriage last for six decades,” said Phillip.

Tying the knot in their 80s

Norah and Sydney met back in 2019 at an old age home they were both living in. Already in their old age, they decided to give love a chance. Due to unforeseen circumstances, though, Norah had to move to another retirement home (Mothwa Haven). Unable to live without the love of his life, it wasn’t long before Sydney followed Norah to Mothwa in February 2021.

Later that year, in October, the couple tied the knot in a ceremony surrounded by their families, friends and the staff of Mothwa Haven, where they now spend their days together, celebrating love every waking moment.

“At first, I wished I could’ve met her in our younger years, but I also understand that maybe our love would not have been what it is today. Now I am happy to have found the love of my life to spend my old days with,” said Sydney.

A hospital visit that led to love

It was the year 1960 when Lorna fell terribly ill and had to be admitted to hospital. Here she would meet a girl who was also sick and around the same age as her. When the girl’s brother came to visit her, it was love at first sight for him and Lorna, and they locked eyes and then got introduced to each other by the equally sick sister.

Five years later, in 1965, the couple made things official as they tied the knot and would go on to live together for 59 years of their lives, celebrating Valentine’s Day together for all of those years. Bob and Lorna have three children together – a son and two daughters – and also share four granddaughters, one grandson and two great-grandsons.

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“How he cared for his sick sister told me everything I needed to know about the man he was and would continue to be over the years. His kind and nurturing spirit has been one of the reasons why our marriage has lasted for as long as it has,” said Lorna.

“It has always been us – whatever happens or comes, we have always chosen us over everything, over and over,” added Bob.

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