Doing things together and never going to bed angry have kept this Primrose couple’s marriage going for the past 50 years.
Susan and Douw O’Kelly celebrated their golden wedding anniversary on October 29 (today, Saturday) and are still as much in love now as they were when they married.
Susan was born and bred in Germiston, living in and attending school in Primrose.
Douw was born in Potchefstroom but his family moved to Germiston central when he was four years old and then later when he was 11 to Primrose Hill.
Although both attended Hoërskool Vryburger they never met while at school.
“I knew his brother Jan and sister Martha, as she was in the same standard as me, but the two of us never met,” said Susan.
The couple finally did meet however, in the street.
“She was supposed to be my blind date one evening and my friends and I drove past her as she was cycling in Main Road on her way to Edenvale,” said Douw.
“My friends pointed her out and told me there goes my date for the evening so I stopped the car and got out to talk to her and officially asked her out.”
Susan told the GCN she was not impressed at first.
“I thought he was ugly.
“He had no hair and I told him he would have to ask my dad, Danie if he could take me out,” she laughed.
Douw chipped in saying he had no hair because he had lost a rugby bet.
“I told my father to say no when Douw asked for permission to take me out, but my dad said yes,” Susan said.
So the couple went to the drive-in and have been together ever since.
At that point Susan was 17 years old and Douw was 20.
“I was an apprentice electrician and money was very shy,” Douw said.
“But as soon as I passed my trade test and got my electrician’s licence I popped the question.”
The couple got engaged in May on Douw’s 21st birthday and married in the Ou Apostel Kerk Homestead that October (October 29, 1966).
“The then Germiston Advocate took our wedding photos and did our wedding album for a very reasonable R30,” said Susan.
The couple settled in Primrose and have lived in the area ever since. They have been living in their current house for 34 years.
Douw first worked with the railways and then was employed by Eskom until his retirement, while Susan did office work at the Post Office exchange, Standard Bank and then D&O until her retirement.
They have three children, Alta Hitchcock (48) who is married to Charles; Makie van der Walt (46) who is married to Johan; and Jaco (43) who is married to Kaydin.
They have also been blessed with four grandchildren, Douwléne (16) and Johané (12) van der Walt and Michael Hitchcock (21) and Shaun O’Kelly (15 months).
“We are proud of our children and grandchildren,” Douw said.
“I must admit I really enjoy my children and love spending time with them.”
In their younger years Susan and Douw enjoyed fishing together and have many trophies which stand testament to their skill.
“Nowadays though we feel too old for this,” Douw said.
He now enjoys gardening and working in the garage while Susan enjoys knitting, baking, cooking and reading.
“Actually I enjoy everything I do,” Susan said.
They also enjoy travelling and have seen many places in South Africa.
The couple believes that a marriage will work if you work out problems speedily.
“A relationship should be more give than take,” said Susan.
“You should discuss things with each other and both be prepared to change your minds,” said Douw.
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