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Never too old to find love
NAPERVILLE, Illinois / The Naperville Sun / January 30, 2009
By Janet Lundquist
jlundquist@scn1.com
JOLIET, Will County, Illinois -- After 70 years of friendship, John Wolak and Cecelia Wasil have found love.
At ages 93 and 91, respectively, they say they aren't rushing to the altar.
Cecelia Wasil, 91, of Naperville, kisses her boyfriend, John Wolak, 93, of Carillon, during a visit at Provena St. Joseph Medical Center in Joliet on Tuesday.
They were both clear that the silvery ring with a purple stone Wolak recently gave Wasil was a birthday gift -- not an engagement ring.
"Not that I would mind," Wolak said. "I love her. I would even marry her. But not in this condition."
Wolak, of Romeoville, has been at Provena Saint Joseph Medical Center in Joliet for about three weeks, recovering from a stroke.
Wasil has visited him there regularly, to the delight of the hospital staff who have gotten to know the couple.
"It's so inspirational," said Mary Sucich, a patient care manager at the hospital. "It's not the end, it's really the beginning. And they have each other. I think that's what inspires them to keep going."
Wasil said Wolak's wife, Sophie, was her best friend. She even stood up in Wolak's 1938 wedding.
Wasil married her husband, Chester, in 1940. The couples remained friends through the years. They each had children and now each has grandchildren and great-grandchildren.
Wolak's wife died in 2000, and Wasil's husband died in 2003. Wasil moved in with her daughter in Naperville, while Wolak lives in the adult community, Carillon.
Cecelia Wasil, 91, of Naperville walks with her boyfriend, John Wolak, 93, of Carillon and physical therapy student Natalie Hackett during a visit at Provena St. Joseph Medical Center in Joliet on Tuesday.
Photos: Liz Wilkinson Allen/Staff
About four years ago, Wasil sent Wolak a postcard with her new address and phone number.
"That was kind of a hint," Wasil said, laughing.
Wolak called Wasil and asked her to have dinner with him. That first date blossomed into a relationship that now has a regular schedule of dates.
"They're a great couple," said Wolak's son-in-law, Mike Konie of South Barrington. "As far as being right for each other, depending on each other, being committed to each other, it's 100 percent. It's just like they're married."
They play cards twice a week, go to church together on Sundays, followed by a pancake brunch. They have spent many a dinner gazing at each other across a table at their favorite restaurant, Bohemian Crystal in Westmont, Konie said.
Since Wolak's stroke, Konie has served as their chauffeur more than once.
"I pick them up, and they sit in back together and hold hands," he said. "It's just like they're teenagers, but they're 90."
On Jan. 8, the day before Wasil's birthday, Wolak had a stroke. He has been at Provena Saint Joseph's Medical Center since. But he's expected to move to a long-term care facility this week.
Wolak's relationship with Wasil has been a joy for his caretakers. The hospital staff, who had heard a rumor the seniors were getting engaged, even bought them a cake to celebrate.
Married or not, their children couldn't be happier that they found each other, Wolak said.
"My daughter's 100 percent for it," he said, eating lunch while attentive Cecelia sat next to him. "If my wife was alive, she'd be 1,000 percent for it. She always considered Cecelia her best friend."
With more than 120 years of married life between them, they offered simple advice for lasting love:
"Treat your partner with respect," Wolak said.
"How about that?" Wasil said smiling as she cut up a banana for Wolak to eat. "Just love one another."
© Copyright 2009 Digital Chicago, Inc.
Cecelia Wasil, 91, of Naperville, kisses her boyfriend, John Wolak, 93, of Carillon, during a visit at Provena St. Joseph Medical Center in Joliet on Tuesday.
They were both clear that the silvery ring with a purple stone Wolak recently gave Wasil was a birthday gift -- not an engagement ring.
"Not that I would mind," Wolak said. "I love her. I would even marry her. But not in this condition."
Wolak, of Romeoville, has been at Provena Saint Joseph Medical Center in Joliet for about three weeks, recovering from a stroke.
Wasil has visited him there regularly, to the delight of the hospital staff who have gotten to know the couple.
"It's so inspirational," said Mary Sucich, a patient care manager at the hospital. "It's not the end, it's really the beginning. And they have each other. I think that's what inspires them to keep going."
Wasil said Wolak's wife, Sophie, was her best friend. She even stood up in Wolak's 1938 wedding.
Wasil married her husband, Chester, in 1940. The couples remained friends through the years. They each had children and now each has grandchildren and great-grandchildren.
Wolak's wife died in 2000, and Wasil's husband died in 2003. Wasil moved in with her daughter in Naperville, while Wolak lives in the adult community, Carillon.
Cecelia Wasil, 91, of Naperville walks with her boyfriend, John Wolak, 93, of Carillon and physical therapy student Natalie Hackett during a visit at Provena St. Joseph Medical Center in Joliet on Tuesday.
Photos: Liz Wilkinson Allen/Staff
About four years ago, Wasil sent Wolak a postcard with her new address and phone number.
"That was kind of a hint," Wasil said, laughing.
Wolak called Wasil and asked her to have dinner with him. That first date blossomed into a relationship that now has a regular schedule of dates.
"They're a great couple," said Wolak's son-in-law, Mike Konie of South Barrington. "As far as being right for each other, depending on each other, being committed to each other, it's 100 percent. It's just like they're married."
They play cards twice a week, go to church together on Sundays, followed by a pancake brunch. They have spent many a dinner gazing at each other across a table at their favorite restaurant, Bohemian Crystal in Westmont, Konie said.
Since Wolak's stroke, Konie has served as their chauffeur more than once.
"I pick them up, and they sit in back together and hold hands," he said. "It's just like they're teenagers, but they're 90."
On Jan. 8, the day before Wasil's birthday, Wolak had a stroke. He has been at Provena Saint Joseph's Medical Center since. But he's expected to move to a long-term care facility this week.
Wolak's relationship with Wasil has been a joy for his caretakers. The hospital staff, who had heard a rumor the seniors were getting engaged, even bought them a cake to celebrate.
Married or not, their children couldn't be happier that they found each other, Wolak said.
"My daughter's 100 percent for it," he said, eating lunch while attentive Cecelia sat next to him. "If my wife was alive, she'd be 1,000 percent for it. She always considered Cecelia her best friend."
With more than 120 years of married life between them, they offered simple advice for lasting love:
"Treat your partner with respect," Wolak said.
"How about that?" Wasil said smiling as she cut up a banana for Wolak to eat. "Just love one another."
© Copyright 2009 Digital Chicago, Inc.
