Caroline Grey and Rodney Scheck are celebrating one year of marriage this weekend but the day they exchanged their vows wasn’t anything like the original plans.
“We were going to have a huge wedding at Painters Lodge and then when the pandemic hit that was over. We couldn’t do it anymore,” said Scheck.
Their wedding was supposed to be on Aug. 8, 2020, but COVID-19 changed all that. In May, they realized a wedding would have to come together in days as Caroline’s father’s health was suddenly failing.
“He was declining really quick and we knew that he didn’t have long,” said Grey.
They both work as care aides in the care home her father was living in which meant they could all be together with a small group of family and friends that day.
“We couldn’t bring him out because of COVID, so we did it in the courtyard at the facility,” she added.
A Justice of the Peace, a dress, rings, a cake and a marriage license all come together just in time and her dad who is really her step-dad of 30 years who was palliative and hadn’t spoken in days suddenly showed a spark as they wed.
“He came alive, he was smiling, he was so happy,” said Scheck.
At a time when visits for residents were only allowed through windows, the wedding was a big boost at a dark time.
“Three floors of rooms, they’re all looking out their windows and pounding on them and cheering and it’s a dementia unit, most of them and it all just made their day,” added Scheck.
Sadly, Grey’s father died one week after their wedding but they both say they have a lot to celebrate today.
Dean Stoltz
