Roodepoort couple celebrates 60 years of marriage
Their story is one of pure and true love, overcoming all life’s obstacles and bringing great value to the vows they made 60 years ago.
In a society where love is cheap and relationships are seen as disposable, it is always heart-warming to read about a couple who decided to prove everyone wrong and show that true love does exist; even though it takes a lot of work and commitment.
Dennis, 84, and Elaine, 79, Burgess celebrated their 60th wedding anniversary on 23 April this year, and are still very much in love with each other.
Their story started in 1953, when the 13-year-old Elaine visited Kimberley while on holiday. This is where she first met her future husband, the then 18-year-old Dennis. But, there was neither love nor interest during that first meeting, seeing that Elaine was still young and not really that interested in boys … yet.
Just over five years later, when fate brought these two langarm music lovers together again, it was a whole different story. The 19-year-old Elaine and 24-year-old Dennis fell madly and passionately in love, and after a whirlwind romance, they were married on 23 April 1960.
The young married couple embarked on their life journey together and enjoyed their days building on their love, raising their family and dancing the square, the cha-cha and the waltz to their favourite music by Hot Shots, Trevor Roskin, Bobby Hendricks, The Mascots and Calypsos.
To sweeten their 60 years of marriage, the couple was also blessed with nine children, 25 grandchildren, and more than 21 great-grandchildren. According to their family members, the strongest value the couple instilled in their loved ones is family.
Many marriages fail and many families fall apart, but the story of Elaine and Dennis is one of pure and true love, overcoming all life’s obstacles and bringing great value to the vows they made 60 years ago. They will always remember promising each other, “Till death do us part”.
