No matter how hard God tried he couldn’t make a better couple than Ann DeMary Eates and Joe Eates, both Class of 1945, who celebrated their 69^th wedding anniversary.

Ann’s  parents were Anthony and Lucy Damico DeMary.

 

Ann's siblings include Jimmy DeMary, Virginia DeMary Rossi  and Anthony “Plumber” DeMary, Jr., all deceased.

Joe's siblings include Mike Eates, Dominick Eates, Class of 1946, who married the late Mary Larry Eates from Carolina; Nick Eates, Class of 1935; Mary Eates, Angie Eates all deceased; and Tony Eates, in my Class of 1950, who lives in Fairmont with wife Lucy Cann Eates.

Ann and Joe live at the bottom of Bridge Street hill. Ann DeMary Eates and Joe Eates are the godparents of John Larry Olesky of Tallmadge, Ohio, the only son of John Olesky, Jr., Class of 1950, who also lives in Tallmadge.

Virginia DeMary Rossi and Christine “Tina” Tartell Arnett, both Class of 1953, were born on the same day – April 24, 1935 -- and died two hours apart on the same day – August 20, 1982 -- and were best friends for life. At Monongah High, they were Student Council representatives together for their senior class in 1953.

 

Tina was the maid of honor at Virginia’s wedding to James Rossi. David Tartell was a pallbearer at Michael DeMary’s funeral in 2007. Tina was Paula Rossi Wiley’s godmother.

 

Virginia DeMary Rossi is buried in Mt. Calvary Cemetery on Park Avenue in Monongah. Nearby are the side-by-side graves of Lee and Josephine Tartell, Tina’s parents, and Lucy and Anthony DeMary, Virginia’s father’s brother.

As for Ann and Joe, St. Peter already has their angel wings and special halos prepared for them in Heaven.