Double Celebration for Two Couples' 69th Wedding Anniversaries

Like on their wedding day processions, horns will be honking for Phil and Marilyn Beluscheck and Ken and Nancy Woodman tomorrow as both couples celebrate 69 years of marriage April 21^st at Aspired Living of Westmont, where all four live.

If all goes as planned, Westmont police officers and firefighters will roll up to the senior living community parking lot at 407 W. 63^rd Street at 11am with horns and sirens blaring in honor of the dual anniversaries.

The Beluschecks were Aspired Living’s first assisted living couple and the Woodmans were Aspired Living’s first memory support couple when the senior living community opened in 2017. Phil, age 90, was pleasantly surprised to learn that he and Marilyn were married on the exact same day 69 years ago as their neighbors. Can you believe it? “What a nice coincidence!” he said.

This year the anniversary celebrations will look a little a bit different because of social distancing.

“We’ll just be hanging out,” said Phil, who is taking sheltering safely at home in stride and not letting social distancing dampen his spirits. Plus, he is thoroughly prepared as he already sent Marilyn flowers.

Although the Beluscheck and Woodman family members cannot join the parties, plenty of special guests and surprises are planned to celebrate!

The big day will start with Westmont Mayor, Ronald Gunter, facetiming each couple with well wishes. Westmont’s police and fire departments will kick-off the public celebration with honking horns and blaring sirens while fellow residents and team members chime in with noisemakers of their own. Aspired Living team members are cooking up their own surprises with anniversary cakes and live piano serenades of “Let Me Call You Sweetheart” and the “Anniversary Waltz.”

Afternoon dancing is planned for Ken and Nancy, who love to boogie to 1940’s big band music. “They always shined on the dance floor at every family wedding,” recalled their daughter, Kim Webb. She is especially happy that, although she cannot be there to see it, there will be dancing, since there was no dancing at her parents’ own simple, post-war wedding reception held in the church basement.

When asked the age-old question: What’s the secret to a happy marriage? Phil joked, “Do what you’re told.” But this married man of 69 years knows better and answered with sweet sincerity, “Be aware of each other’s needs and wants and likes and dislikes. Give-in and go-along. And, above all, always be kind to one another.”

Phil and Marilyn from the Beginning

Phil and Marilyn met as teens growing up on Chicago’s far south side. Phil played football for Fenger Academy High School, and on the way home from practice each day he walked past Marilyn’s house. She would always be outside and must have caught his eye as he sold her a ticket to the Roseland YMCA dance, where they shared their first dance.

“It’s been a wonderful life together,” says Phil. “We have accomplished a lot and made many happy memories.”

After serving in the Marines, Phil worked for General Motors for 35 years and retired at an executive level in 1970. He and Marilyn raised their daughter in Western Springs, where they lived for 45 years before moving to Aspired Living. They have two granddaughters nearby.

Ken and Nancy from the Beginning

Ken grew up in Chicago and Nancy in Maywood. The two met, by accident, at Northern Illinois University, where Ken was attending on a G.I. Bill. Ken came to pick up Nancy’s roommate for a date, but her roommate had already left with someone else. Nancy asked what Ken had planned, and when Ken told her it was ice skating, she said, “I like to skate.” Off they went on their first, sort of, date.

Ken worked as a teacher, and he and Nancy raised their two daughters in Willow Springs and Hinsdale. They enjoyed weekends at a Grandma’s Fox River cottage. Eventually they bought a cottage of their own on Eagle Spring Lake in Wisconsin, where they spent summers, while wintering in Venice, Florida.

Kim said the family, which includes five grandchildren and two great-grandchildren, looks forward to visiting in person again soon.

About Aspired Living of Westmont

Aspired Living of Westmont, located at 407 W. 63^rd Street, Westmont, IL, offers independent living, assisted living and A Knew Day® Memory Support. For more information, call 630-283-8755 or visit pathwaytoliving.com.

Photo Caption:

Aspired Living of Westmont couples, (left to right) Marilyn and Phil Beluscheck and Ken and Nancy Woodman, are both celebrating 69 years of marriage on April 21^st.