Prayer service spotlights couples married in 1972

The 59th annual Golden Wedding Anniversary celebration, sponsored by the Office of Marriage and Family Life of the Archdiocese of New Orleans, was held June 26 at St. Philip Neri Church in Metairie.

All couples married during 1972 were invited to attend, and 144 couples accepted the invitation, with clergy, relatives and friends of the jubilarians in attendance. Archbishop Gregory Aymond presided at the prayer service.

During the prayer service each couple was presented with a scroll signed by the archbishop. A special papal blessing also was delivered for the occasion. A photo of each couple with the archbishop was taken and will be mailed to the jubilarians.

Several of the couples observed anniversaries of more than 50 years. They were:

• Aline and William Collins, 73 years, Jefferson; Mary Dee and Nelville Theard, 73 years, Covington; Antoinette and Victor Costa, 72 years, New Orleans; Veronica and Theodore Kampen, 70 years, Metairie; Dominica and John Benfatti, 68 years, Lacombe; Rita and Daniel Cazaubon, 67 years, Jefferson; Laura and Elwood LeBlanc, 67 years, Slidell; Pauline and Melvin Abney, 66 years, Slidell; Shirley and Ronald Fuxan, 66 years, Metairie; Betty and Howard Bode, 65 years, New Orleans; Elaine and Salvador Rando, 65 years, Metairie; Catherine and Larry Walker, 65 years, Westwego; Beverly and Anthony Viloria, 62 years, Metairie; Vivian and Sebastian Ambrosia, 60 years, Folsom; Mary Lou and Isidro Pierre Caceres, 60 years, Terrytown; Barbara and Stephen Decker, 60 years, Metairie; Rose and Melvin George, 60 years, New Orleans; Mary and Don Johnson, 60 years, Metairie; Mary and Thomas Kirchem, 60 years, Kenner; Gloria and Vernon Nordman, 60 years, Covington; Linda and Alwin O’Neil, 60 years, Metairie; Patricia and Michael Toso, 60 years, New Orleans.
• Agnes and Larry Avist, 58 years, Belle Chasse; Linda and Allen Bernard, 57 years, Chalmette; Mary and Joseph Deffner, 57 years, Covington; Patricia and Joseph Bollinger, 55 years, Metairie; Doris and Frank DiMarco, 55 years, Marrero; Ivonne and William Patin, 55 years, Metairie; Eileen and Kenneth Frick, 54 years, New Orleans; Nellie and Carter Alexander, 52 years, Marrero; Gwendolyn and Jerry Bennette, 52 years, New Orleans; Judy and James Daigle, 52 years, Harvey; Linda and Marcel Gelpi, 52 years, Metairie; Gloria and Lloyd Lear, 52 years, New Orleans; Margaret and Sterling Millet, 52 years, New Orleans; Maribeth and Stephen Price, 52 years, Destrehan; Sandra and Gary Woods, 52 years, Kenner; Estelle and Clifton Allen, 51 years, New Orleans; Susan and John Billiot, 51 years, Slidell; Mary and John DeLuca, 51 years, Metairie; Beverly and Carey Gauff, 51 years, Reserve; Debra and Neal Giroir, 51 years, Gretna; Debbie and Howard Hebert, 51 years, Pearl River; Patricia and Stephen Koch, 51 years, Pearl River; Juliette and Douglas Kuylen, 51 years, Kenner; Katherine and James Pierre, 51 years, Edgard; Margaret and Paul Rosefeldt, 51 years, New Orleans; Deborah and Peter Spera, 51 years, New Orleans; Shelia and Melvin Thompson, 51 years, New Orleans; Peggy and Michael Villemarette, 51 years, Kenner; Rhonda and Sidney Yuratich, 51 years, Slidell.

Couples observing their golden anniversary were:

•  New Orleans (except Algiers): Barbara and Theodore Argote, Pamela and John Aubert, Mignonne and John Bankston, Mary Kay and A. Vance Barbay, Iris and Norman Brisco Sr., Charlotte and Richard Crusta, Lynne and Ed Dupuy, Cynthia and Emile Gauchet, Alice and Kenneth Grooms, Patricia and William Harris, Faye and Willie Harrison, Alice and C. Robert Holloway III, Lydia and Kenneth Jackson, Savona and Farrell Joseph, Henri and Donald Reed Sr., Geraldine and Ronald Rigaud, Peggy and Leo Seago, Corletta and Earl Smothers, Claudette and Jerry Tolbert.
• Algiers: Linda and Gary Cheramie, Althea and Michael Nedd, Celia and Farrell Smith.
• Belle Chasse:  Pamela and Michael Robeaux.
• Covington: Kithy and Makis Filopoulos, Christine and Michael Gaffney, Jo Ann and Ronald Giarrusso, Dianne and Ernest Herbert, Jerri and William McDonald, Deborah and John Mendow.
• Edgard: Virgie and Michael Johnson, Jacqueline and Roger Lumar.
• Folsom: Kathleen and Jon Craig, Sandra and Dominic Palmisano.
• Harvey: Evelyn and William DiMarco, Sandy and Betsie Duhon, Mary Ellen and Roy Hepting, Celeste and Arnold Lassere.
• Jefferson: Linda and James Charles, Jane B. and Lovell O. Duggan, Lucille and Stephen Morgan.
• Kenner: Gail and Darryl Bordelon, Maria and Michael Borne, Erin and Charles Coolidge, Patricia and Robert Finnan, Linda and Val Franz, Justine and Stephen Gilbert, Darleen and Ernest Krieger, Gwynne and Clarence Kron, Mary Ann and Ronald Lemoine, Ann and Steve Manger, Marilyn and Peter Young.
• LaPlace: Theresa and Marcel Jacob, Cathy and Thomas St. Pierre.
• Luling: Karen and Blaine Caillet, Diane and Kerwin Caillet, Ruth and Ronald Madere, Barbara and Ronald Troxclair.
• Madisonville: Pamela and Dickie Brady, JoAnn and Tommy Monier.
• Mandeville: Barbara and Walter Babst, Bonnie and Doug Owens, Audrianne and Carlos Quintana.
• Marrero: Carolyn and Riley Boudreaux, Claudia and Lloyd Clark, Diane and David Keller, Phyllis and Wayne Theriot.
• Metairie: Patricia and Keith Breaux, Terrilyn and Thomas Canale, Catherine and Peter Castelluccio, Leslie and Ronald Ciolino, Jeanne and James Cope, Cynthia and William Credo, Linda and Dominador Garfin, Marilyn and Justin Douglass, Ann-Marie and Bernard Duffy, Judy and Jack Jones, Karen and Thomas Kirkley, Natalie and Carl Koppeis, Rosalie and Robert Lakey, Peggy and Al Lionnet, Judith and Michael Martin, Mary and Larry Morgan, Martha and John Najolia, Paula and Richard Raymond, Barbara and Joseph Rosolino, MaryAnn and George Schweitzer.
• River Ridge: Carla and Larry Segura.
• Slidell: Wendy and Vincent Roppolo.
• Waggaman: Cheryl and Rene Carmouche, Janel and Timothy Firmin, Cathy and Richard Kimball, Joyce and Whitney Zeringue.
• Westwego: Elaine and Ronald Boudreaux.