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Love endures over the years and the miles
for Jean and Walter

February 22nd, 2017

It’s no secret who Jean Romaniuk’s special valentine is. She and her husband Walter have been sweethearts for 75 years. Jean clearly had Walter in mind as she created her Valentine’s Day craft box at Points West Living Heritage House in Vegreville recently. These days, Jean goes the extra mile to show Walter her love. 

(Thanks to recreation coordinator Kathy Sawchuk, who spoke to Jean about her life with Walter.)

Every week, Jean books the handi-van

Every week, Jean books the Vegreville handi-van service to travel 25 kilometres northwest to the town of Mundare to visit Walter. Two years ago, when Jean and Walter were still living in their own farm home just outside of the town, their physician advised Jean that Walter’s dementia had progressed to the point that he should be moved to secure care at the Mundare Continuing Care home. “When Jean found out she couldn’t go there with him,” says Kathy, “she says she cried for two months.”

First comes love...

Jean, who celebrates her 96th birthday on March 2, met Walter at church in Mundare when they were in their teens. They courted for two years then married on June 7, 1941. “They were married in a chapel in a field,” says Kathy. “The priest owned land and the chapel was in his field. They lived with Walter’s parents for 2 years then moved into a granary – a small wooden building that usually stored harvested grain. From there they moved to a small shack, and it wasn’t until they had been married for 6 years that together, they began building their own home from scratch.”

There, Jean and Walter worked the farm; “This means Jean drove a grain truck, tractor; did whatever she had to do on the farm.” They had four children of their own and two foster children. Sadly, their youngest son passed away in 2008.

Jean moves to PWL Heritage House

A year ago, Jean broke her wrist, and moved from the farm into Vegreville to PWL Heritage House. “Fortunately her family is very close,” says Kathy, “and with 7 grandchildren and 8 great-grandchildren, someone is always visiting.”

They kiss and hug and go to his room to talk

When Jean goes for her weekly visit with Walter, she always brings apples or cookies. “They kiss and hug and go to his room to talk,” says Kathy, “They visit for an-hour-and-a-half and then they kiss & say good-bye. Some visits are very good and sometimes he is very confused and back in the past. She never cuts the visits short, though.”

Photo: PWL Heritage House resident Jean Romaniuk shows off the valentine box she decorated in honour of her husband Walter. She plans to give the box to her daughter, with whom she “shares a very special bond.”

More photos of the Valentine’s Day box craft at PWL Heritage House, go to Flickr: Love endures over the years and the miles for Jean and Walter 

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