Cape Breton couple celebrates 75th wedding anniversary

Meet a Cape Breton couple celebrating 75 years of wedded bliss.

It was on Aug. 16, 1950, that Ray and Jean MacKay of Cape Breton said “I do” to one another.

“Time flies, and all too quickly,” Ray said on Tuesday, 75 years and three days later.

On Saturday, the couple celebrated their 75th wedding anniversary in their home community of Westmount, N.S.

They can still remember the 1950 ceremony in a little white church in Skir Dhu, N.S., along the Cabot Trail. They say the outdoor reception afterward was lit by kerosene lanterns.

“There was no electricity, no running water, so everything was done the hard way,” Jean recalled with a laugh.

All these years later, there is something else the bride recalls from that day.

“The wedding was [supposed to be] at 7p.m., and Mr. Tardy was late,” she said referring to her husband. “So, the wedding was at 7:30.”

Three quarters of a century later, both husband and wife agree they have more than made up for that lost time.

This past weekend, they were showered with cards from family and friends, along with a congratulatory certificate from the Cape Breton Regional Municipality and plenty of visitors at the home they have lived in for decades.

Jean is 96 years old. Her husband is 102 and is a Second World War navy veteran - having served from 1942 until the end of the war in 1945.

He is also well-known in his community for playing the organ at the Westmount United Church and has been recognized as one of the oldest church organists in Canada.

Another thing that is clear is that the two have not lost their sense of humour over the years.

“I tell people that Jean and I do a little travelling these days,” Ray said with a wry smile. “I drive her up the wall, and she drives me up the wall.”

The listed Guinness World Record for longest marriage is 88 years, 349 days, set back in the 19th century.

When asked whether they have any hopes of approaching that mark, the couple’s sense of humour came to the forefront again.

“No,” Jean MacKay said. “I think we’ll probably get divorced before then.”

All joking aside, the couple agreed they have plenty to be grateful for.

They say they are in reasonably good health for their age and have four children, seven grandchildren and eight great-grandchildren - with more on the way.

When asked what their secret is to such a long and happy marriage, the pair said they have had their ups and downs over the years, like any other couple, but have found ways to push through.

“No secret, just patience,” Jean said. “And keep on trucking.”

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