Together 65 years and still having fun

Jennie Ciccolo's left knee was killing her. Not only did she have trouble getting up from a chair, she couldn't chase her husband around the house.
"Once I get it fixed, I'll be chasing him again," she said, cracking a broad smile. Joe, 86, and Jennie, 83, Ciccolo have been married for 65 years. As people live longer, you see more long marriages like this, but that's still an impressive record. I heard about the Ciccolos from their son, Bob, of Hanover. Bob e-mailed me about his parents, who still live independently in their own house, after so many years together. "We think it's pretty unusual," he said. They have four children, eight grandchildren and three great-grandchildren. Jennie is recuperating from knee replacement surgery and doing well. Before the surgery, I dropped by to meet the Ciccolos in their house at Matfield Woods in West Bridgewater. They bought the retirement home 22 years ago, after living for 32 years in Quincy, where they raised two daughters and two sons. Jennie and Joe met when she was 15 and Joe, 18, drove her mother home from a friend's house. "I was sitting in the kitchen, and he walked in and my heart went pitter-patter," Jennie said.
After they were married in 1943, Joe worked as an auto mechanic in Quincy. Jennie had various jobs, including a school cafeteria cook. Their Quincy home became a social center for family and friends. Joe built a bocce court, planted grape vines, strung lights, and they had parties every Satur day night with 40 to 50 people.
"That's what makes the family gel," said Joe. "Everybody helps the other out, and you have a good time."
They are proud of their kids and their achievements. "I always in sisted my sons do the right thing -- the right thing for them," Joe said. "We steered them on the right path." Jennie's mother, who had emigrated from Italy, came to live with them when she was widowed and stayed for 25 years. They got along. "She was crazy about Joe," said Jennie. After they moved to West Bridgewater, Joe had his golf and his garden, but Jennie was still commuting to work in Quincy. "I didn't like it here at first," she said. "But I adjusted."
The couple always loved to dance and sing and were soon per forming in local musicals.
When you meet the Ciccolos, you sense they're a happy couple. You see it in the way they stand and sit together, finish one another's sentences, laugh at each other's jokes. I asked their secret for a long and happy marriage.
"It's a 50-50 deal," Joe said. "We fight now and then, and that stimulates you. We're doing fine. We stay active, have good food -- she's a great cook -- we have a wonderful house, wonderful children and grandchildren."
And, added Jennie, "We had the fun of making up. My mother always said, 'Don't ever go to bed mad.'"
Old-fashioned, but never out of date.

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• West
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• Joe
• Jennie
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• 65
• years
• married

[jayboogs2002]

This is sweet, parties every weekend, Im jumping all over that idea.

[xxleanneciccoloxx]

These are my famly members!!!!!!!!

[midlynn]

How sweet! I love it! And a great rendition of Frankie's New York New York!! Thanks for sharing! This stuff just melts me!