“It’s like having the Queen of England here. They don’t demand a lot of respect, but because of who they are, people respect them,” Vivienne Scott, the retirement community’s activities co-coordinator, told the news source.
The couple met in 1941 on a train from Montreal, and soon they started dating. In their early courtship, Mary and Gerry would go dancing at an upscale Ottawa hotel, the Chateau Laurier.
After marrying, they soon began worldwide travel, as Gerry worked as a Canadian diplomat. They lived in Turkey, Scotland, England, Malaysia, Sweden and Lebanon.
While overseas, the Hughes met Queen Elizabeth, whom Gerry described to the news outlet as being personable. They later had three sons, Tim, Christopher, and Michael, and three grandchildren, currently aged between five years and 24 years old.
The Hughes’ story is inspiring, and there are countless other couples in assisted living and Alzheimer’s Care communities across North America who have similar experiences.