Shopping newS Love

This Valentine’s Day, we are sharing stories of local couples whose marriages have stood the test of time for more than six decades. The couples featured on this week’s cover pages shared their stories and words of advice for long-lasting love.

When Marlene Battisti turns 86 this May, her husband Joe won’t let her forget that she is older than him, even if he only gets to tease her about it for six days.

Joe and Marlene, who were born within one week of each other in Hazleton in 1937, met at Hazleton High School, where they graduated together in the class of 1954. While they have been by each other’s side for nearly 70 years, they have been married for 60. Their wedding took place on September 22, 1962 at St. Batholemew’s Catholic Church in Tresckow. After their marriage, the Battistis moved to Somerset, where Joe was stationed as a Pennsylvania State Trooper. They moved to Ephrata when he was transferred in 1964, and have lived here ever since.

Joe and Marlene have two children: a daughter, Mary Beth Parkes, who resides in Leister, England with her husband Andy and children Tycho, age 20, and Addi, age 16; and a son, Joseph, husband of Heidi, parents of Josh, age 23, and Sophia, who passed away in August of 2022 at age 21.

The Battistis say they have been truly blessed with all of the special moments they have been able to share together over the years. They have enjoyed traveling, visiting their daughter and family in England eight or nine times, plus visits to Ireland and Italy, many different beaches, and walking on the Golden Gate Bridge in California. They have also joined some clubs together.

The couple views marriage as a 50/50 street; they make decisions together, and know that

one of them may have had to wait longer for their own project, but they did it together. Their advice for couples that are just starting out is to never go to bed mad – before turning out the light and saying “Good night,” say “I love you.”

Shirley is originally from Womelsdorf, and has resided in Ephrata, Hanover, and Stevens. Fred is from Ephrata, which is where the couple met when they were introduced by a neighbor.

Always kiss each other goodnight and say “I love you!” That’s the advice that Philip and Edith Hess would like to impart to newly married couples.

Edith, now 84, and Philip, 85, have been married for 63 years. Originally from Altoona, they met at a neighborhood block party while Philip was home from a ship to shore leave from the USS Northampton CLC-1. On June 27, 1959, they were married at St. Mark’s Catholic Church in Altoona. They moved to Ephrata after they were married, where they still reside.

Throughout their marriage, the Hesses have

Patience, love and understanding. Those are the qualities that Fred and Shirley Ecenrode say have contributed to their successful marriage. In addition, they advise young couples that kindness and communication are very important. The Ecenrodes will celebrate their 60th wedding anniversary this summer, after being married at Bethany Children’s Home on August 16, 1963.

Fred and Shirley have enjoyed many activities together over the years, including cruises to Europe and Alaska. However, they say the most special moments they’ve had the opportunity to share have been watching their family grow, with the births of their children, grandchildren, greatgrandchildren and great-great-grandchildren.

Children’s Home on enjoyed many years of camping and beach trips with their family. The couple has two children, a son, Michael Hess, of Lancaster, and a daughter, Julie Sawyer, of Ephrata. The family has grown to include four grandchildren: Nicole Newman, Brittany Groff, Courtney Bippus and Derrick Groff; and two greatgrandchildren: Riley Groff and Crew Bippus, with a third, Baby Girl Bippus, on the way!

Fred and Shirley are the proud parents of eight children: Vicky, David (deceased), John, William, Laura, Suzanne, Fredrick and Joanne. They also have 18 grandchildren and numerous great-grandchildren and great-greatgrandchildren.

See pages 9A and 1B to read about more local couples!