Longest Married Couple Celebrates 73 Years of Marriage

Alden of Waterford Continuing Care Retirement Community’s Dale, 100, and Doris, 91, Chatfield were recently recognized for 73 years of marriage by the State of Illinois and Chicago-Gary Diocese for World Wide Marriage Encounter. The happy couple is the state winner of the annual Longest Married Couple Project sponsored by Worldwide Marriage Encounter. They were recognized at a special ceremony with a framed certificate and a congratulatory letter from the State of Illinois Congressional Office on Feb. 10.

The Chatfields, formerly of Denver, Colorado, have been residents of the Alden of Waterford Continuing Care Retirement Community for the past seven years. They have two children, six grandchildren, two great grandchildren and one great, great grandchild. The couple met at church shortly after Doris moved to Denver from Boulder, Colorado. They were wed following a brief courtship. Doris was 18 and Dale was 27 years old at the time.

When asked about the secret to their 73-year marriage, Doris says, “We don’t smoke, we don’t drink and we live a simple life. We have never had a lot of money, but we enjoy the little things in life.” She continues, “Dale has always been so good about surprising me and he never fails to say ‘thank you’ when I feed him. I make what he likes and he says that I am a great cook!”

Alden Gardens of Waterford Assisted Living Community is located at 1955 Randi Dr. in Aurora.

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Alden of Waterford Continuing Care Retirement Community’s Dale, 100, and Doris, 91, Chatfield, are still very much in love after 73 years of marriage. The Chatfields are the longest married couple living in Illinois.