LOVE blossomed early for Pinetown residents, Jessie and Dennis Daly, who celebrated their 60th anniversary on Thursday 9 January.
The loving couple met when they were both only 13 years old, at one of the Friday youth groups at the Brakpan Presbyterian Church in Johannesburg, and officially started dating as 18-year-olds.
“As youngsters we grew up together, and we use to go to parties and dances with friends as a group. We loved each other from a young age and never officially asked each other out, we just accepted that it was going to happen,” said Dennis.
In 1954 the couple recited their vows in the same church they met years ago. They were married by minister Sandy Leask.
Since then their love has been blessed with four children (Vivienne, Andrew, Glenda and John), eight grand children and five great-grand children.
Dennis, who was a director of a company for 20 years, and Jessie, a stay at home mom, moved between Johannesburg and Durban on several occasions. In 1965 they finally settled in Durban, and in 2000 they moved into Doone Village in Pinetown.
When asked what they still loved about each other, Jessie said, “Everything. We have been together for a long time and we have always supported and devoted our time to each other.”
Dennis said, “We have both been lucky, as we share a lot of common interests, such as music and sports. Jessie knows as much about the Sharks as I do.”
The Daly’s advice to other couples would be to find common interests and to spend time with each other. “You need to support and share each others interests,” said Dennis.
Jessie and Dennis celebrated the prestigious milestone with family and friends at a luncheon held at the Doone Village on Saturday 11 January.
