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By JOLYN RESNICK jresnick@leader.net
Monday, February 07, 2000 Page: 3A
BUTLER TWP. – Susan and Andrew Lechman met more than 77 years ago at the
Freeland Public Park.
She was walking up steps to go to a dance and tripped. “He picked me up
and asked me for a dance,” Susan said. “I said, `Only if they play `Three
O’Clock in the Morning.’ ”
They did. And, the couple have been together ever since.
Susan, 93, and Andrew, 97, were married on May 20, 1924 – about 18 months
after their first dance.
In May, they celebrated their 75th anniversary. Recently, they were
selected as winners of the Year 2000’s longest-married couple in United States
dioceses. The contest was sponsored by the Worldwide Marriage Encounter’s
World Marriage Day National Team.
The couple, both disabled, live at the Butler Valley Nursing Home in the
Drums section of Butler Township. They sleep in separate rooms. Neither would
say why, but they say snoring is not the cause.
Both admit that it’s not been an easy 75 years. They lived through the
Depression, and they lived through Andrew’s two hip replacements 23 years ago.
Neither is looking forward to another 75.
But they do have words of wisdom to kids just starting down the aisle.
“Argue it out, then make up,” Susan said. “When we had arguments, it
would last a week.” She said the best part of fighting was making up.
Andrew said young married couples should “go through tough times a few
times, then you’ll know you’re married.” He also said young couples should
take marriage “one day at a time.”
Andrew doesn’t remember their wedding day. He said it was like a fog. But
Susan remembers.
She says they were married in St. Johns Catholic Church in Freeland. Her
sister made her a wedding dress. The song they first danced to when they met
was the first song they danced to on the night they were married.
Susan attributes their longevity to their commitment to each other and God.
Devout Catholics, even their golden retriever, Taffy, kept the faith, Susan
said.
“When the grandchildren came for dinner, we always said grace. The dog
wouldn’t touch her food until she heard me say, `Amen.’ ”
Most of their lives were spent in Luzerne County, Susan said, except for
the 16 years they spent in Baltimore.
Both worked for Martin Marietta, building airplanes, until retirement. He
was an assembler and she worked in electronics. They have a 72-year-old
daughter, four grandchildren and 10 great-grandchildren, the oldest of which
is 13.
The Diocese of Scranton will honor the couple on Sunday.
Call Resnick at 829-7210.