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FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Contact: Shirley Freyer
Concordia Lutheran Ministries
Tel: 1-724-352-1571 x8266
sfreyer@concordialm.org

Three Concordia Haven Couples Celebrate Anniversary on Same Day

Cabot, PA – While August 21 is the day of such celebrations as Kenny Rogers birthday and the anniversary of Hawaii becoming a state, it was a special day for several couples in the Haven III building at Concordia Lutheran Ministries in Cabot, PA… but certainly not for those reasons.

Celebrating wedding anniversaries on that day were Concordia Haven III residents Robert and Elva Bretsnyder (58 years), Harry and Lois Shindledecker (52 years), and Bob and Marlene Weissert (53 years). The three couples have been at Concordia for three years three months, three years, and five years respectively.

For a retirement facility such as Haven III, with only 36 married couples, three anniversaries in one day is an oddity to say the least. Only one other day in the year, November 22, yields three in one day at that particular building. Based on the number of married couples at Haven III, there should be one anniversary every 10 days or so (365 days/36 couples).

The Bretsnyders were married at St. John’s Evangelical Lutheran Church in Homestead, PA in 1948. They have five children scattered across the United States; Robert C. of Poway, CA, Bruce L. of Shaler, Barry M. of Bellevue, Layne A. Martorelli of Palm Bay, FL, and Beth Ann King of Saxonburg. They also have seven grandchildren.

Robert retired in June of this year after working for the last 36 years as an attorney at his own firm. He worked as an IRS Agent and also spent 20 years in the United States Navy Reserves and two years in active duty. Elva worked for Bell Telephone and was a homemaker. They are members of St. Paul’s United Methodist Church in McCandless Township.

The Shindledeckers were married in 1954 at Emmanuel Lutheran Church in Castle Shannon, PA. They have one daughter, Lisa Ryder of Wayne, PA, and two grandchildren. Harry worked as a principal at Pennsville Elementary School until his retirement in 1987. Lois retired in 1987 after teaching in Salem, NJ for 17 years.

The pair are current members at St. Luke Lutheran Church in Saxonburg and are former members of St. Ambrose Lutheran Church in Pennsville, NJ, where Harry was on the church council and building committee and Lois was an Alter Guild. Both enjoy reading and traveling in their spare time.

The Weisserts, who wed in 1953, first exchanged vows at First Congregational Church in Etna, PA. They have two daughters, Sandy Minty of Norman, OK and Andi Knauer of Allison Park, as well as five grandchildren. They are members of Elfinwild Presbyterian Church in Glenshaw, PA, where Bob is an elder and choir member and Marlene is in the choir and women’s association.

Bob retired from AT&T in Fairfax, VA in 1987 after 33 years with the company. Marlene worked for Prudential Insurance, Shaler School District, and the Coalition for Christian Outreach, until her retirement in 1984. Bob and marlene enjoy their grandchildren and traveling and have been active in the Masons and Eastern Star for 52 years.