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Couple Celebrates 80th Wedding Anniversary, Shares Secrets to Lasting Marriage
Yahoo! ^ | November 20, 2012 | Lauren Sher

Posted on 11/21/2012 4:23:01 PM PST by Altariel

On Nov. 25, 1932, FDR had just defeated Herbert Hoover, the daily newspaper cost two cents, and Ann Shawah said "I do" to John Betar in Harrison, N.Y.

Fast forward through 13 presidents and 80 years to 2012: the Betars are still happily married. After five children, 14 grandchildren and 16 great children, the couple from Fairfield, Conn., will celebrate their 80th wedding anniversary Sunday.

"We are so blessed. We are fortunate," John Betar, 101, said.

"We are very fortunate. It can be repeated and repeated," Ann, 97, echoed. "It is unconditional love and understanding. We have had that. We consider it a blessing."

(Excerpt) Read more at gma.yahoo.com ...


TOPICS: Miscellaneous
KEYWORDS: 80thanniversary; marriage
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1 posted on 11/21/2012 4:23:07 PM PST by Altariel
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To: Altariel

It’s not that happy people are necessarily thankful but that thankful people are happy.


2 posted on 11/21/2012 4:25:09 PM PST by Mercat
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To: Altariel
I was thinking more along the lines of separate states of residence.

Good for them.

/johnny

3 posted on 11/21/2012 4:27:05 PM PST by JRandomFreeper (Gone Galt)
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To: Altariel

97-80=17

He robbed the cradle. Is that part of their secret? Surprising MSM gave them positive coverage instead of having him arrested for being a sexual predator.

I know a couple almost that old. I think he met her when she was waiting tables and he just finished his enlistment. If memory serves me, she was 14 or 15. Not married quite as long as this couple, but they were for many decades and have many children, grand children, and great grand children, plus a number of others they raised, many of whom are salt-of-the-earth kind of people.

They don’t make ‘em this way any more.


4 posted on 11/21/2012 4:37:48 PM PST by unlearner (You will never come to know that which you do not know until you first know that you do not know it.)
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To: Altariel

AWWW! What a great post. Thank you.


5 posted on 11/21/2012 4:38:31 PM PST by kitkat
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To: Altariel

Absolutely adorable couple! Thanks, Altariel, for such a wonderful post!


6 posted on 11/21/2012 4:50:30 PM PST by momtothree
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To: unlearner

Their ages are 4 years apart, not 17.


7 posted on 11/21/2012 4:52:56 PM PST by krb (Obama is a miserable failure.)
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To: kitkat

It is a great post. So nice to have something to smile about. They sound like wonderful people.


8 posted on 11/21/2012 4:57:13 PM PST by Bigg Red (Sorry, Mr. Franklin, I guess we couldn't keep it.)
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To: Altariel
On Sunday, the couple will mark their 80th wedding anniversary with a quiet celebration surrounded by family and friends at the St. Nicholas Antiochian Orthodox Church in Bridgeport, where they are original founding members.
9 posted on 11/21/2012 4:57:25 PM PST by iowamark
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To: Altariel

“Five children spawned 14 grandchildren and 16 great children”

...and here is the problem. 14 grandchildren, probably all of which are at least old enough to have kids, should have a lot more than 16 kids between them. This is called losing the demographic war.


10 posted on 11/21/2012 5:00:15 PM PST by BobL (You can live each day only once. You can waste a few, but don't waste too many.)
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To: krb

I know. I was exaggerating. She is 97. They’ve been married 80 years. That means she was married when she was 17.

Not really robbing the cradle, but this definitely does not fit the feminist narrative.


11 posted on 11/21/2012 5:01:01 PM PST by unlearner (You will never come to know that which you do not know until you first know that you do not know it.)
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To: Altariel
"We worked hard and never got tired of making money," he said. "This is the land of opportunity."

Uncle Sham never gets tired of taxing those like him either.

12 posted on 11/21/2012 5:07:13 PM PST by tflabo
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To: Altariel
They came from a generation where there is such respect for each other and caring." The Betars consider themselves "fortunate." Hesitant to dole out advice to newlyweds, they each offered simple, guiding mantras to a lasting marriage.

"Get along. Compromise. Live within your means and be content," Betar said, before adding, "And let your wife be the boss."

"We don't have bosses," she said. Her advice: don't hold a grudge.

"You know what your commitments are and you try to live by them

My parents taught me about respect, caring and commitment. My wife and I only have 35 years to go to hit our 80th anniversary.

13 posted on 11/21/2012 5:14:56 PM PST by Alaska Wolf (USA!)
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To: BobL

The 14 grandchildren may be spaced out. In some families, sibblings and/or cousins may have an age difference of 20+ years. Some of the grandchildren may have fertility issues. Some may be single by choice.


14 posted on 11/21/2012 5:24:37 PM PST by Altariel ("Curse your sudden but inevitable betrayal!")
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To: krb

She was 17 years old when they married. Women were much more mature in those days.


15 posted on 11/21/2012 5:26:34 PM PST by Wiser now (Socialism does not eliminate poverty, it guarantees it.)
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To: Altariel

“The 14 grandchildren may be spaced out. In some families, sibblings and/or cousins may have an age difference of 20+ years. Some of the grandchildren may have fertility issues. Some may be single by choice.”

I just look at the raw numbers and see the same right around me. On my wife’s side, she has a lots of siblings and almost the same number of nieces and nephews - she should have twice as many little ones...and half of the nephews are gay, which doesn’t help (that’s because her immigrant family didn’t know enough to keep them out of public school here...but that’s another story).

By age 100, most people are not likely to have many more great grand kids...maybe a few, but not many.


16 posted on 11/21/2012 5:32:58 PM PST by BobL (You can live each day only once. You can waste a few, but don't waste too many.)
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To: Altariel

They certainly are blessed. My husband and I had only a year before the Lord gathered him up. A good marriage is a blessing, a good long one is a miracle.


17 posted on 11/21/2012 6:22:35 PM PST by HomeAtLast
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To: unlearner
I was 17 when Mr Ditter and I married in 1957 and he was 23. We are coming up on 55 years in a few weeks and it has been wonderful.
18 posted on 11/21/2012 6:30:30 PM PST by Ditter
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To: unlearner

>> “He robbed the cradle” <<

.
When Isaac married Rebecca, she was 14.


19 posted on 11/21/2012 7:21:13 PM PST by editor-surveyor (Freepers: Not as smart as I'd hoped they'd be)
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To: JRandomFreeper

yeah. separate tv’s, cars, beds, bathrooms, and sometimes, houses.

if you’re in it for the long haul, you find ways to make it work.


20 posted on 11/21/2012 7:24:36 PM PST by Secret Agent Man (I can neither confirm or deny that; even if I could, I couldn't - it's classified.)
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