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Colonia Couple Celebrates 70th Wedding Anniversary By Kristen Bedner Lanza When my grandparents were married in 1941, you could buy a new Ford automobile for $925, a gallon of gas for 19 cents, and a postage stamp for a mere 3 cents. My grandfather lived on a farm off of Green Street in Woodbridge, where Public Storage is now located. My grandmother lived in a house in the same area, where Staples is currently located. After riding passed her with his shiny bicycle (complete with sheepskin seat) and asking if she’d like a ride, they “courted” for 4 years before marrying. On August 2, 2011, John and Elizabeth Bedner celebrated their 70th wedding anniversary. They are 92 and 93 years old, and still live in the same house they built in Colonia 56 years ago. My grandfather continues to maintain his acre of property by mowing and fertilizing it by himself, while my grandmother enthusiastically pulls the weeds and tends to her flowers. As a child, I spent countless days after school and in the summer with my grandparents and was able to observe the true meaning of a healthy marriage. As we played enjoyable games together and took walks along Middlesex Avenue to Freemans Pond, it was clear to me that the key ingredients to a healthy marriage were patience, communication, and admiration for one another; key ingredients that I later sought out for my own marriage. Not many couples are lucky enough to reach such a milestone in their lives and not many grandchildren are lucky enough to witness the eminent love between their elders. It is people like my wonderful grandparents that keep the hope for a successful marriage alive for my younger generation. Undoubtedly, my grandparents are an inspiration and guiding light for my husband and me; we can only hope our marriage has the same outstanding health and longevity after 7 decades!
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