It’s never too late for wedding bells, is it?
A 76-year-old man and his partner of 40 years, a 70-year-old woman, finally got married earlier this month, a decision the couple made together after the man, Wu Yongcheng, was diagnosed with cancer in May.
Both were married as young adults and divorced their first spouses, which may have contributed to them being more than a little gun shy.
Shin Min Daily News reported on Jul 15 that the couple, now also known as Mr and Mrs Goh, never intended to get hitched, but serious illness has a way of changing one’s perspective.
“After more than four enduring decades of being together, the wait is over for Mr. Goh and his long-time partner. In fulfilling his wish, Mr. and Mrs. Goh comfortably solemnised their marriage in an intimate ceremony right outside Mr. Goh’s flat,” reads a July 9 post on the Ambulance Wish Singapore Facebook page, which also shared photos of the special event.
The post said that the couple’s loved ones, including Mr Wu’s children, daughters-in-law, and grandchildren.
It was his social worker from Ng Teng Fong Hospital, a man named Philip, who referred his case to Ambulance Wish Singapore, which then helped make it happen.
Neighbours, nurses, and medical social workers from Methodist Welfare Services also attended the festivities.
The new bride first met Mr Wu over four decades ago when she worked for his wholesale fish ball and fish cake business, she told Shin Min Daily News.
They fell in love and began staying together more and more.
The new Mrs Goh added that they were too busy with life’s daily activities that the thought of marriage was far from them, but agreed to support one another as long as they stayed together.
Two decades of their forty years together were spent in Cambodia, where they operated a Chinese restaurant in the country, and eventually adopted the daughter of a neighbour who passed away.
Health problems meant they needed to return to Singapore.
As he fell ill with lung cancer, Mr Wu said he wished to marry his life partner.
“The guests received wedding invitations and auspicious red packets were prepared for the couple to gift to their children and grandchildren. Lastly, the couple was also delighted to receive wedding bands engraved with their names.
As the ceremony winded down, Mr. Goh and his loved ones settled down for dinner containing some of his favourite delicacies such as Kong Ba Bao and Hokkien Mee.
As someone who does not particularly like cake, Mr. Goh was amused by the ice cream cake that finally topped off this special day, allowing for the symbolic moment of slicing into the wedding cake. It is perhaps this moment that best encapsulates the day – While this might not have been a typical ROM to many, it was perfectly suited to the newlyweds and there was no shortage of bliss to be found,” wrote Ambulance Wish Singapore.
/TISG