Local Golden Wedding anniversary couples celebrated

The annual Golden Wedding Anniversary celebration of couples married 50 years or longer was celebrated recently at St. Philip Neri Church in Metairie.  The Clarion Herald invited several of the nearly 200 couples celebrating this year to tell us what the secret was to a long marriage.

Raoul “David” and Patricia Broussard  have been married for 75 years and have five children, eight grandchildren and 13 great grandchildren. They are parishioners of St. Luke the Evangelist Church in Slidell and were the longest-married couple in attendance.

“The main thing is to respect one another and love each other. You have your good days and bad days, but you put up with it no matter what,” Patricia said.

“When you get married, it’s for life, it’s not until you feel like you want to leave,” David said.

Ernesto and Marcelina Espiritu have been married for 71 years. They have nine children, a dozen or so grandchildren and six great grandchildren. They are parishioners of Our Lady of Prompt Succor Church in Chalmette.

Ernesto said patience and love have kept them together.

Marcelina is a daily Mass attendee and Virgin Mary devotee who prays several novenas to Mary, including one to “Our Lady of the Miraculous Medal.”

“We share joy and sacrifice for each other,” she said. “I bring joy and happiness to our relationship to deal with the trials such as the current illness of my husband. The Lord keeps helping us.”

Raymond and Kitty Ferrand, parishioners at Our Lady of the Lake Church in Mandeville, have been married 50 years. They have two sons and six grandchildren.

“We’re opposites but we make it work,” Kitty said.

“We don’t go to bed angry,” Raymond said. “That’s truth,” interjected Kitty. We’ve always done that; never ever gone to bed angry.”

Nolan and Mary Alice Landeche have been married 60 years. They have three children,  five grandchildren and three great grandchildren and are members of St. Peter Parish in Reserve.

  One secret to a long marriage for them: “Companionship,” Nolan said.

“Putting each other first,” Mary Alice said. “Always tell our husband yes,” Nolan joked. “Putting God first in our marriage is the main one,” Mary Alice said.

This was the 56th annual Golden Wedding Anniversary celebration in the Archdiocese of New Orleans.  Each couple received a scroll and photo with Archbishop Gregory Aymond.

– Christine Bordelon