Celebrating a golden time together

There is one couple who has spent many happy years together and is looking forward to more.

Carlos (77) and Maria (70) da Silva, of Primrose, celebrated their 50th wedding anniversary on Sunday (August 18), with friends and family, at a party held at Luso Africa.

Both Carlos and Maria were born and raised in Portugal — Carlos was born in Lisbon and Maria in Alentejo.

When they had completed school they both started working for the same company and that is where they met.

“We dated for five years before deciding to get married,” said Maria.

But it was a rather unusual wedding, as Carlos had taken a job in Mozambique, making bottles, and could not be at the wedding ceremony.

“My brother José stood up and represented me in church,” Carlos said.

Shortly after their marriage Maria joined Carlos in Mozambique and they lived there for a few years.

In 1971 they moved to South Africa and settled in Springs, where Carlos worked at a glass manufacturing company.

“After three years I decided to leave and became a pipe fitter/welder/boiler maker,” he said.

“We moved to Germiston town and then, eight years later, relocated to Primrose, where we have lived ever since.”

Carlos has worked in many African countries, including Angola, Mozambique, Kenya, Tanzania and Zambia, earning money for his family.

He and Maria have three children — Joe (48), Victor (47) and Natalia Ribeiro (44), and six grandchildren.

They are a close family and Maria adores her children and grandchildren.

They also love their cat, Chaninha, who rules the roost at their home.

Maria enjoys swimming and knitting and designs clothes and makes them for her family and clients.

Carlos enjoys talking and doing things for Luso Africa.

The GCN asked them what advice they would give to newly married couples and Maria said the most important thing is patience.

“You must always be patient with one another and be happy with the man you have chosen,” she said.

Carlos said you need to have confidence in one another and must always work together.

“We have had a happy marriage for the past 50 years,” Maria said.