‘Patience and a lot of love’ – the secret to a long marriage according to Sale care home residents

Love was in the air at a Sale care home when two residents celebrated reaching 66 years of marriage together.  

Stella and Frank Millner, two residents at Care UK’s Oakfield Croft, on Oakfield, celebrated their 66^th wedding anniversary and revealed the secret to a long marriage – patience and a lot of love.

The pair met at their local youth club in Sale in 1954. Stella was a shorthand typist at a local school at the time, while Frank worked as a motor mechanic. Two years later, the couple tied the knot and were married at St Joseph’s Catholic Church, in Sale, on 6^th October 1956.  

Frank and Stella went on to have three daughters together, and now have five grandchildren. Looking back on their many years married, the two reminisced fondly of their holidays together in Guernsey.  

When asked the secret to a long and happy marriage, they jokingly said that bossing each other around works quite well, before sharing some pearls of wisdom. Both agreed that a lot of care, love and patience with one another is essential for a happy life together. 

To help them toast the special milestone, the team at Oakfield Croft treated the pair to a three-course meal at the home and a glass of prosecco, with carefully crafted dishes specially prepared by the home’s chef.   

Daniel Cole, Home Manager at Oakfield Croft, said: “Here at Oakfield Croft, we regularly celebrate big anniversaries and understand the importance of maintaining relationships and celebrating life’s milestones. 

“We are privileged to have been a part of such a lovely celebration and able to mark this chapter in Frank and Stella’s life together. We all aspire to find the love that Frank and Stella share for one another and to make it last a lifetime.  

“Frank and Stella’s anniversary encouraged many of the residents to look back at their own memories and share their wonderful life stories with us, which was incredibly heart-warming. Happy anniversary once again to Frank and Stella!” 

Oakfield Croft has been designed to enable residents to live active and fulfilling lives, while also promoting independence. The new care home incorporates space for hobby and leisure activities. The layout of the building is configured into a series of individual suites, each having a dedicated lounge/dining room to help facilitate the creation of close-knit communities, as well as facilities like a cinema, coffee shop and hair salon.

To find out more about Oakfield Croft, contact Customer Relations Manager, Jayne Eyre, on jayne.eyre@careuk.com or call 0161 820 4019.

For general information about Care UK, please visit Oakfield Croft.