ng insight
ADES OF LOVE
ow they have keep their relationship thriving after 59 years of marriage.
up back in Marlborough during the
holidays.
“I brought a boyfriend back with me
once, and I wish I hadn’t. He just
didn’t compare with Howard,” Naida
says. “I always compared boys to
Howard and none measured up.”
And what precisely is so special about
Howard? “Oh I don’t know, he is just
lovely,” Naida says. Howard thought
he was doing alright too. “I always
thought I got pretty lucky that a girl
like that was interested in me.”
Naida’s father, a devout Jehovah’s
Witness, was the only one not
entirely thrilled with the match, but
they atoned by having a big church
wedding at the Masonic in Queen
Street, Blenheim with 200 guests.
They don’t pretend their marriage
has all been smooth sailing. They
had three children, Dean, 54, Tasha,
45 and Rachel who died 15 years
ago, aged 24.
“I had her three months before I
turned 40. She was such a delight,”
says Naida. “It was heartbreaking.”
“It was the worst thing that could
possibly ever happen,” says Howard.
Again, they can’t express how they
managed to get through that terrible
time, but they did although they still
feel the gap she left behind.
With two surviving children, three
grandchildren and two great
grandchildren, they feel blessed with
their lot.
Their 50th wedding anniversary, held
at George Michel surrounded by
friends and family, was a real highlight
for them both. They have no idea
how they are going to celebrate their
Diamond Anniversary next year -
Naida turns 80 this year and is more
interested in that particular party.
“Although we’d better both make it to
our 60th wedding anniversary, I’ll be
pretty ticked off if we don’t,” she says.
And are they still in love after 59
years of marriage? “We muddle along
alright,” says Naida.
Sitting down and sharing a lifetime
of memories with Naida and Howard,
really does prove that love can
withstand the test of time.