Judy Russell: Two couples, two marriages, both examples of how true love works
What is the price of love in a marriage?
I’ve been thinking about this, especially during the past week.
I’ve never been married, but I’ve witnessed how marriages have survived (and how others haven’t) on both sides of my family.
This past week brought joy to one of the couples in the family, and grief, sadness and letting go to another couple.
On the joyful side, Cousin Nancy and her husband Ken, who have lived in Denmark all their lives, celebrated 58 years of marriage Jan. 29 with a quiet dinner at a Denmark restaurant. When I asked Nancy via email what the secret was to a good marriage of 58 years and counting, she replied, “58 years have been good days and bad. We just go one day at a time. The kids have been so good with us.” Ken and Nancy were high school sweethearts and their love just kept growing.
On the morning after this celebratory occasion, the girl cousins, including me, received a text from Mike, husband of Cousin Jayne. Jayne has had dementia for several years, is in a care facility in the Green Bay area and has been on hospice for several months. Mike spends most of his day with her. “Jayne is in final transition, so not much time now. Love you all,” Mike texted. Their two adult sons, and Jayne’s caregiver, were with him. Jayne and Mike were married two days before Mike, who was in the Army, deployed to Vietnam. Their 56th wedding anniversary was Dec. 23, 2023.
Last week's column: Some seniors trade pain for new joys in transitions of life
Father Carr’s Place 2B in Oshkosh is sponsoring its first Sheepshead Tournament Feb. 3. Card games begin at 9 a.m. Each registrant will play three rounds of 15 hands. Food and beverages will be available. Lunch will be served after the third round of play. This tournament is limited to 30 players. To see if there are openings left, call 920-231-2378. The event is in the Mother Teresa Center at the Place 2B, 1062 N. Koeller St.
The Catholic Family Movement of St. Jude Parish in Oshkosh is sponsoring a Shrove Tuesday Pancake Supper Feb. 13 to kick off its 2024 season. The event starts at 5:30 p.m. in Bastian Hall at the St. Vincent site, 1225 Oregon St. Children can compete in a traditional pancake race. All are welcome to come and learn what CFM is about. RSVP to Rob Saley at 920-235-7412 or at rsaley@stjudeoshkosh.org.
The Finance Council of St. Mary Church in Omro recently voted to donate to 10 local/area charitable organizations, noting that “as a church we are called to tithe a portion of our wealth.” The church received cards and letters of thanks from many of the organizations that benefited from the money. One of them was Feeding America Eastern Wisconsin. Patti Habeck, of Feeding America, wrote, in part: “This letter comes with warm appreciation for your gift of $500 to Feeding America Eastern Wisconsin. Your donation provides 2,000 meals to those facing hunger in our communities. Thanks to your generosity local families have the opportunity to focus on … spending time with loved ones, sharing food and gifts. Instead of worrying about where that next meal is coming from, your support means that thousands of food-insecure families in eastern Wisconsin have what they need to enjoy the holidays.“
The Knights of Columbus organization is sponsoring a Sweetheart Pancake Breakfast Feb. 11, from 8 to 11:30 a.m., at St. Raphael Parish, 830 S. Westhaven Drive. Freewill offerings will be accepted. All are welcome.
A Wine & Cheese Social, featuring live entertainment by Marshall Potter and the Bourbon Street Dixieland Band, will be held Feb. 10 in Bastian Hall at the St. Vincent site of St. Jude Parish. The event, which begins after the 4:30 p.m. Mass, is sponsored by the St. Jude Young-at-Heart group. All adults are welcome. Children are welcome to have snacks and participate in games at St. Vincent School during the same time.
Peace Lutheran Church in Oshkosh is having two fundraising events to raise money to send youths from Peace to the National Youth Gathering in New Orleans. Confirmation will be hosting hospitality Feb. 11 in the Fireside Room and cooking up some pancakes with a selection of toppings. Then, Feb. 25, the church will have its annual Chili Cookoff, in coordination with Peace’s Mission Endowment Sunday. The event will include a basket raffle.
The weather may change, but the needs remain the same for those who are helped by donations of items for the Birdie’s Blessing Box outside Christ Our Savior Lutheran Church, 1860 Wisconsin St., Oshkosh. Items needed at this time include hats, gloves, mittens, socks, hot chocolate packets, plastic spoons and forks, regular spoons and forks, oatmeal packets, ramen soup, dry goods, cereal and peanut butter. Monetary donations can be sent to the church address. Write “Birdie’s Box” on the memo line of your check.
A White Mass honoring all health care professionals will be at 9 a.m. Feb. 11 at St. Francis Xavier Cathedral, 140 Monroe Ave., Green Bay. Bishop David Ricken of the Catholic Diocese of Green Bay will preside.
Peace Lutheran Church in Oshkosh is one of the faith communities participating in the Family Radio Network’s Help for the Homeless Drive, which runs from Feb. 11 through March 3. Peace will have collection boxes in the narthex for donations. The most urgent needs are soaps: laundry, dish, soft, shower gel, two-in-one shampoo; trash bags (shelters especially need these for bedrooms); diapers, sizes 3 to 6 and Pull-Ups; unscented deodorant; wet wipes; toilet paper; paper towels; disposable razors; and tampons and maxi pads.
Mardi Gras is fast approaching. The annual Mardi Gras celebration at St. Raphael Parish in Oshkosh will be Feb. 13, the day before Ash Wednesday, starting at 6 p.m. This family celebration is intended to prepare everyone for the Lenten season. For more information, visit the parish website at Raphael.org, or call 920-233-8044.
Thought for the day: Whatever doesn’t kill you really does make you stronger.
Judy Russell of Oshkosh writes about happenings at area centers of worship. To submit news for her consideration, email oshkoshsubmit@thenorthwestern.com with the subject “Church news.” Deadline is 5 p.m. Mondays.
This article originally appeared on Oshkosh Northwestern: Oshkosh columnist Judy Russell on the 'price of love in a marriage'
