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BY HAYLEY SULLIVAN
For any doubters in the possibility of love at first sight, Tony and Lucy Ventura of East Greenwich have a story to convince you otherwise: Theirs.
It’s a story that begins in 1935, when Lucy and Tony met at St. Anthony’s Church, a Portuguese Church in West Warwick, where Tony was an alter boy. Lucy took one look at him and told her sister “he’s going to be my boyfriend!” Soon after meeting, Tony began visiting Lucy at her house on Tuesdays and Saturdays. Reflective of the times, the two were never without a chaperone during their courtship. After dating for close to a year, Tony at 20 years old, asked Lucy, 19, to be his wife. They were married on a Saturday and went to work the following Monday, sparing the indulgence of a honeymoon.
The commencement of their marriage proved to be indicative of a pattern of hard work and solidarity that continues to characterize their marriage. Both Tony and Lucy worked in the mills. Lucy left her job at the Aquidick Mill soon after getting married. One year later, Lucy gave birth to her first of their seven children.
Tony, who began working at the mills at age 14, was an employee of Royal Mill for a total of 50 years. Tony was determined to provide for his wife and family. Remarkably, during his 50-year tenure at Royal Mill Tony never once took a day off. Tony did not let the blizzard of 1978, which brought the state to a standstill, prevent him from going to work; he walked atop cars in order to make it to the Royal Mill. Tony reported to the mill daily at 4 a.m., then from the mill he went straight to St. Joes Hospital, where he worked until 10 p.m. Tony was also an entrepreneur, establishing a local produce distributing business. Meanwhile, Lucy, a loving and devoted wife, took care of the house and the children.
Lucy and Tony’s life was not without its share of heartache and sorrow. Sadly, they lost two of their children when in their early twenties to the flu and a brain aneurysm. These were the hardest days of their lives. The support of their family helped them get through this difficult time. Today, they have 5 surviving children, 11 grandchildren, and 6 great grandchildren. The majority of the interview was spent learning about their children, grandchildren, and great grandchildren through albums of pictures, accompanied by stories. This humble and hard-working couple spoke about their noteworthy lives as though they were simply commonplace, perhaps suggesting they thought they should be.
When Tony retired, he promised Lucy that he would assume the responsibility of cleaning the house. This is a promise Tony kept until eight months ago, when they moved into Greenwich Bay Manor, in East Greenwich. While Tony cleaned the house, Lucy cooked dinner. They did everything together as a family. After Tony retired, the couple enjoyed wintering in Florida, as well as traveling to Italy, Hawaii, and Portugal.
Tony and Lucy Ventura, longtime Rhode Island residents, will be celebrating their 74th Wedding Anniversary on Tuesday, May 26th. What is the couple’s secret to making a marriage work for 74 years? Tony and Lucy say it is to “love and respect one another.” Tony also explained “when we got married, it was until death do us part. Divorce never entered our minds. We were brought up that way.” They advise new couples to be honest with one another, cooperate, and do things together as a family.
Tony and Lucy made a promise to one another 74 years ago, a promise from which they have never strayed. Above their bed hangs their framed wedding picture. The walls and windowsills are covered in photos of, and gifts from, their children, grandchildren and great grandchildren. The photos and token gifts celebrate their life-long journey together.
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