Julio and Waldramina got married in secret 79 years ago as their relatives were against their union.
Some people find their partners in the most unexpected way. As they spend more time with each other, they realize that both of them are ready to cement their relationship with the holy vows. There are different outcomes to this decision. While some end up finding someone else, others spend the rest of their lives with each other.
But a couple from Ecuador has taken the term "growing old together" to a whole new level. They have become an example of "happily ever after." What is it that they've done, you ask? They are the oldest living married couple in the whole world with a combined age of nearly 214 years. Well, here's how their story began.
Congratulations to Julio Cesar and Waldramina, the oldest married couple with a combined age of 214 years!https://t.co/xcjYlEuRPp
— GuinnessWorldRecords (@GWR) August 26, 2020
Julio Cesar Mora Tapia, 110, and Waldramina Maclovia Quinteros Reyes, 104, have been together for 79 years. Their love story looks like it's straight out of a movie or book. Julio was born on March 10, 1910 and Waldramina on October 16, 1915, reported The Guinness World Record. What's more interesting is that Julio was born even before the famous Titanic ship sunk in 1912.
Through the years they have only grown stronger as they've experienced everything together, from happiness to challenges, but their love has always helped them overcome difficulties. Now, they've earned themselves the title of the oldest living married couple. They secured the title with an aggregate age of 214 years and 358 days.
"For us, Julio Cesar and Waldramina, it is a great honor and pride to have a Guinness World Records title because it is the highest award that the world recognizes," said the couple as reported by People.
The couple met when Waldramina went on a visit to her sister's place during her school vacations. As fate has its way, Julio lived in the same building. Turns out, her sister's husband knew Julio and thus began their friendship.
Things soon turned serious as they fell in love. According to Waldramina, it was her husband's lively spirit and beautiful poetry that entrapped her. Julio, on the other hand, fell in love with his wife's kindness, personality, and beauty.
When the couple got married on February 7, 1941, in the oldest church in Quito, La Iglesia de El Belén, it was a bittersweet moment for them. Even though they were accompanied by their godparents to witness the happy moment, they didn't have the blessings of their relatives.
"The love and maturity that we had as a couple from the beginning of the marriage allowed us to know each other and grow emotionally to define our future," said the couple.
"It was not easy because our relatives did not have a good relationship, but with time and patience we were able to unite them and we became an example and the best reference for the younger generations" they added.
However, both Julio and Waldramina believe that leaving the family is the greatest achievement of their life as it helped them give a proper life and education to their kids which they deserved. "Promoting education allowed us to map out a route for all generations of our great family," said the couple.
"Family unity under the rules of love, mutual respect, honest work, and proper education based on family values are the keys to healthy coexistence," the couple said. The couple admits that the credit for their long and strong marriage goes to "the secret formula = love + maturity + mutual respect."
Both Julio and Waldramina are retired teachers and parents to five children. Their oldest son, however, died at the age of 58. They still have a huge family of 11 grandchildren, 21 great-grandchildren, and nine great-great-grandchildren.
According to their daughter Cecilia, even though the couple is young at heart, old age has taken its toll over them. The pandemic has been a disappointment to them and made them "more downcast" as “for a month they have been different, more downcast because they miss large family gatherings." "Since March, we have not had any of that. My parents need family contact,” Cecilia told Associated Press, as quoted by Today.
The couple said, "It is true that at this time it is difficult because we are overwhelmed by the pandemic that affects the world and we still do not have a solution. However, the first step for us to follow the rules with respect and love the life."
Julio and Waldramina, now retired, dedicated their entire life to teaching and sharing the knowledge that they had. Now, they've got the Guinness title and time to enjoy their retirement.
References:
https://people.com/human-interest/worlds-oldest-married-couple-new-record/
https://www.today.com/news/ecuadorian-spouses-break-record-world-s-oldest-married-couple-t190468
