Vermont couple celebrates 70 years of marriage
Phyllis and Mike Capriola, members of Corpus Christi Parish in St. Johnsbury, VT will be celebrating their 70th Wedding Anniversary on June 18, 2020.
The pair met in high school in New York. “We met when I was going to high school. Mike had a small camera shop in Port Chester, NY and I passed it on my way home from school. I would go into his store and talk with him,” said Phyllis. “I had two older sisters and he would come to my home with two of his friends and we started triple dating,” she added. They were married on June 18, 1950 at Holy Rosary Church in Port Chester, NY and are the proud parents of eight children.
One of their favorite memories is from their 50th wedding anniversary. Their children saved money for years and threw them a party in Bennington which included Mass and dinner for over 200 family and friends. They also covered the cost for Phyllis and Mike to fly from their home in Florida.
According to Mike, he gained valuable insight about marriage from his customers who would tell him about their declining marriages. “For most married couples the biggest problem they have is the checkbook,” he said. That’s why he and his wife share a bank account. “Money and belongings are ours, not yours and mine,” said Phyllis. “If we had anything important to purchase we always discussed it,” she said. Another secret to a strong marriage is marrying someone for shared values and the qualities they possess. “The most important qualities in a partner are “faithfulness, patience, understanding compassion and willingness,” said Phyllis.
The World Marriage Day Anniversary Mass is being celebrated on February 2, 2020 at 10:00 am at St. Joseph Cathedral in Burlington.