Huron Expositor, 2002-02-13, Page 9 (4)the new (5191238-WINE014631
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People are always asking couples whose marriages
have endured at least a quarter of a century for their
secret for success. Actually, it is no secret at all. I am
a forgiving woman. Long ago, I forgave my husband
for not being Paul Newman. - Erma Bombeck
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Wednesday, February 20, 2002 - Page 9
Hoys happy together for 60 years
BY TIM CUMMING
Norman and Erma (nee Culbert)
Hoy are celebrating 60 years of
marriage.
Young couples can learn from
Norman and Erma that love can last
but any relationship requires work.
"You have your ups and downs,"
said Erma. "Nobody's perfect."
The word Erma uses to describe
the key to a solid marriage is
`commitment.'
"You have to work at your
marriage," she said, at a 60th
anniversary held for the couple late
last year at Bethel Pentecostal
Assembly in Goderich.
Norman says partners in a
marriage can't be inflexible.
"You have to give a bit
sometimes," he said.
The Hoys also say a strong
religious faith is important in a
marriage.
"We try to put the Lord first in our
lives," said Erma.
The couple knew what it was like
to live without luxuries as they were
growing up.
Erma was one of five children.
She grew up in Haltain, about 17
miles out of Saskatoon and six miles
north of Dundern, Saskatchewan,
amidst the sand storms of the late
1930s.
"Nothing would grow out there
where we lived," she recalled.
Norman, a Colborne Township
native, was "a McGaw boy." He
grew up in that "little railroad stop
along the track," the first station out
of Goderich. His father was a
section foreman on the Canadian
Pacific Railway.
Norman, one of nine children,
grew up in the Great Depression.
There were good times - his family
Photo by Tim Cumming
Norman and Erma Hoy are
shown at the 60th wedding
anniversary reception held for
the couple at Bethel Pentecostal
Assembly in Goderich. They are
shown in front of a quilt that was
given to them, incorporating
photos of them throughout the
years.
was big enough to form a hockey
team in winter and a ball team in
summer - but he had to leave home
early in life in order to work.
He sailed in the Merchant Marines
at the ripe old age of 16. After
travels far and wide the Colborne
Township native returned home at
the age of 19.
Norman and Erma met on the
Square in Goderich.
Flowers important symbols
Flowers play a key
role in any wedding.
When deciding on
which flowers to include
in your wedding, ideally
you should choose your
favourite ones. And
knowing their symbolic
meaning will make them
even more special.
Where should you
begin when it comes to
selecting flowers for
your wedding? With the
bride's bouquet, of
course. Above all, it
should go beautifully
with her wedding dress.
The result will only add
to her beauty. Also
consider the message that
the flowers chosen for
the bouquet will convey.
For example:
• Red roses symbolize
passionate love
• Pink roses: a solemn
vow of love
• Fuchsia -coloured
flowers: a passionate
heart
• Red and purple
flowers: unwavering love
• Buttercups: the joy
that love brings
• Sunflowers: being
overcome with love
• White lilies: purity,
majesty and honesty
• Irises: a tender heart
(dark blue or purplish:
tender love; white and
blue: confident love;
yellow or marked with
various colours: joyful
love)
• Striped pink
carnations: the passion of
love
• Red tulips: devoted
love
• Wild daisies: a
simple heart.
This is just a peek into
the meaning of various
flowers. These flowers
will be an integral part of
the wedding.
"I'd just come home from
sailing," Norman remembers.
Ermawas walking along the
Square with a mutual friend. They
happened to bump into Norman
along the Square and introductions
were made. The rest, as they say, is
history.
The Hoys, both in their late teens,
were married in St. Catharines on
Feb. 23, 1942.
After four years in the Merchant
Marines Norman served in the Royal
Canadian Navy for the last three
years of World War II. He served on
the North Atlantic on the HMCS
Red Deer and the HMCS Medicine
Hat.
After returning home from the war
Norman began work as a painting
contractor. Later on he worked for
about 20 years at the salt mine in
Goderich.
A reception to honour the couple
on 60 years of marriage was held at
Bethel Pentecostal Assembly on
Saturday, Oct. 13, 2001.
The couple was presented with a
quilt incorporating pictures of them
and their family throughout the
years.
"It's beautiful," said Erma, who
was, along with her husband,
surprised by the gift.
The Hoys have four children:
Phyllis Hoy, Audrey Meikle, Gary
Hoy and Ron Hoy.
Perhaps another reason their
marriage has lasted sixty years is
that both Norman and Erma have
kept a sense of humour.
Norman jokes that Erma is "still
wondering after 60 years" about her
decision to marry him.
Erma jokes right back.
"He had to put up with me too,"
she says with a smile.
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