True Love: Dozens of couples married 50 years or longer renew their wedding vows

Love was in the air in Paramus a day before Valentine’s Day as dozens of couples who have been married for 50 years or longer renewed their wedding vows at a special ceremony.

News 12 Staff

Feb 14, 2020, 1:07 AM

Updated 1,760 days ago

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Love was in the air in Paramus a day before Valentine’s Day as dozens of couples who have been married for 50 years or longer renewed their wedding vows at a special ceremony.
The ceremony was held at Paramus Park Mall and organized by Stew Leonard's, which hosted a reception for the more than 30 couples from the Bergen County area.
Manala and Loretta Sotell have been married for 67 years. They say that their love is stronger than ever.
"I think it's mutual admiration for what each does for the other. And we're always compatible,” Loretta says.
There weren’t any other couples in the group married longer than Margaret and Fred Sortino. They celebrated their 70th anniversary in November. They said that each year got better and better.
Azhar Hadi and Houfdhi Abid are practically newlyweds compared to some others in attendance – married for just 52 years since they first found each other in their native Iraq.
And what is the secret to such long-lasting marriages?
“I have yet to find out,” jokes Ralph Lee of Dumont.
Lee and his wife Eve have been married for 66 years. They say that a sense of humor certainly helps.
Stew Leonard's says it has never hosted an event like this before but given the response from so many couples, the chain may do it again in more stores.
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