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After 60 years, each day is Valentine’s Day for Niles couple
Celine (left) and Walter Tymczuk pose for a portrait at the Niles Senior Center. The couple has been married for 60 years and enjoy hanging out at the center. | Curtis Lehmkuhl~Sun-Times Media
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Updated: April 15, 2013 2:11AM
For Celine and Walter Tymczuk of Niles, Valentine’s Day is not something they celebrate just once a year.
The couple, at 81 and 92 years old, remains very active. They have been married happily for 60 years and lived in Niles for 42 years. One of their favorite things to do together is watching a movie at the Niles Senior Center.
Q: What are some tips for a long and happy marriage?
A: You have to have respect for one another. If you have your own views, you listen to what the other person has to say. You try to work things out to agree on what should be done.
Q: Where did you guys first meet?
A: We first met in Chicago. He lived in another apartment building. We met in the neighborhood. I was in high school and he was working.
Q: Do you do anything special on Valentine’s Day?
A: No. Every day is Valentine’s Day for us.
Q: What qualities do you like the best about your husband?
A: He’s a quiet person and very helpful and thoughtful. He can do a lot of manual labor.
Q: Do you have any children?
A: No. We have probably about 180 nieces and nephews. We babysat a lot.
Q: What do you guys enjoy doing together?
A: We like to travel. We’ve been to all the 50 states and Mexico. We’ve had a couple trips to Europe and we had a lovely trip in the Alps. We camped for about 15 years in our van. Traveling is very educational. He was the pilot and I was the navigator. We’ve done many things I wanted to do all my life.
Q: What other hobbies do you have in common?
A: We’re great admirers of the Niles Senior Center. We did some volunteer work until we were not able to do it. We enjoy the movies and socializing with people there. We started a fishing club. We have 40 signed up for fishing.
Q: Any advice for newlyweds?
A: You have to compromise and work things out.
