Couple Celebrates 60th Wedding Anniversary at Hospital

‘Tis the season for love, as Valentine’s Day is upon us. You don’t have to tell that to Delaware County couple, John and Claire Noone. The high school sweethearts from Springfield were married 60 years ago in January 1951. The Noone’s and their family had planned to celebrate a renewal of vows for the 60th anniversary in church, but couldn’t do so because Mr. Noone was hospitalized at Intensive Care Unit. Despite his illness, and despite the brutal, wintry conditions outside, that didn’t stop the determined family from moving ahead with the vow renewal plans.

While surrounded by their children and grandchildren, the Noone’s looked on while Father Salvatore Riccio, pastor of St. Francis of Assisi in Springfield, blessed their marriage, and honored the couple with a framed certificate and message from Cardinal Justin Rigali, Archbishop of Philadelphia.

On hand for the celebration were the Noone’s five children, including John Noone, of Media, Joe Noone, of Drexel Hill, Liz Hamilton, of West Chester, Jennifer Diaz, of Chester Springs, and Nancy Nacrelli, of Raleigh, N.C. Several of their seven grandchildren were there as well.

The Noone’s daughter, Liz Hamilton, says the family made the best of the situation.

“It was a beautiful celebration. It was as good as it could be in the ICU, and the staff was so happy to help us with everything,” says Hamilton.

Lifelong Delaware County residents, the Noone’s met as teenagers at a St. Francis de Sales dance, where they danced, kissed and fell in love. Mrs. Noone remembers it well.

“It was love at first sight at that dance so many years ago, and the kiss sealed it,” she happily recalls.

Mr. Noone went on to serve in the U.S. Army and attended St. Joseph’s University on the GI Bill to study accounting. For the next 31 years, he worked for Franklin Electric Company as an electrical supplies salesman.

“It was a good job,” he says proudly.