NewsLocal News

Actions

Buffalo couple gets engaged after more than 60 years of marriage

Posted
and last updated

BUFFALO, N.Y. (WKBW) — Bob and MaryAnn Pershyn have been together since they were 14 years old.

“I was standing outside of a soda bar in Riverside and I was with a friend of mine, and MaryAnn was training for a race," Bob said. "She came jogging by and I looked at my friend and said she’s the one.”

The rest was history. The Buffalo couple has now been together for more than 60 years. Today, they finally got engaged.

Though Bob and Maryann have been married for 61 years, MaryAnn says they never had a proper engagement.

“I don’t know if he was testing me for 61 years to see if I was the one he really wanted," she said laughing.

But that all changed on Christmas day and MaryAnn said this gift came as a complete shock.

“I unwrapped it and there was a little jewelry box in there, and I’m thinking what in the heck could this be," she said. "I’ve already gotten a wedding ring.”

But when she realized it was an engagement ring, she was ecstatic.

“And then I said to him, well you have to put it on me.”

While MaryAnn never felt like she was missing out without an engagement ring, she said this is her favorite gift by far.

“This means more to me than a marriage ring because he did not have to do that ever, you know," she said.

December 25, 2020 is a day MaryAnn said she will cherish forever.

“I look down at it all the time and think of all the memories we’ve had to get to this point," she said. "It just a beautiful beautiful keep sake.”

And when I asked her if it was worth the wait, she said, "You know it!"