‘Love at first site,’ Ohio couple celebrates 75 Years of love and togetherness

BELMONT COUNTY, Ohio (WTRF) — A Belmont County couple is about to celebrate their 75th wedding anniversary.

Mary and Mark D’Ambrosia have four children, six grandchildren, and eight great-grandchildren.

And they still remember the day they met.

The D’Ambrosias still sit close to each other.

They love to talk about how they met, and they still remember how they felt that day.

And how they’ve spent the years since then–together.

Mark and Mary met when they were 17.

Well, I had a good friend I went to school with, and he was next-door neighbor to Mary, and one day he took me over there, her house, and I never stopped going back.”

Mark D’Ambrosia, Married 75 years

And that was it! He never went. He came back every day after that. Love at first sight.”

Mary D’Ambrosia, Married 75 years

They were married one year later.

These days, they’re living in St. Clairsville, about to celebrate their 75th anniversary.

Well, it went so fast I can’t believe it! I can’t believe we’re 94 years old, close to 95 years old. It seems like it was just yesterday we got married.”

Mark D’Ambrosia, Married 75 years

I can tell you this: if they’re sitting on the couch, they’re either holding hands, or my dad has his arm around her, and they’re sitting so close to each other you couldn’t get a toothpick in between ’em.”

Rosie Pfalzgraf, Daughter

They worked hard and took family vacations every year.

They say they’ve always done everything together.
In fact, they go to church together every morning.
Well it gives me a good feeling for the rest of the day and makes you love people and love the earth and be glad that God made us.”

Mark D’Ambrosia, Married 75 years

They’re very spiritual people so I think they just like the right kind of life and they eat healthy, they take care of themselves and part of it is, they’ve got good genes.”

Rosie Pfalzgraf, Daughter

What is their advice to any young couple tying the knot?

Well you have to learn to love each other and take care of each other and help each other to be healthy.”

Mary D’Ambrosia Married 75 years

All you have to do is say Yes Ma’am!”

Mark D’Ambrosia, Married 75 years

It certainly worked for Mary and Mark.

They’ll have an anniversary party in August.

By the way, the 75th is called the diamond anniversary.

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