GUELPH – During seven and a half decades together Jean and Howard Edgerton have travelled the world, made music, danced, served their communities and raised four children.
The Edgertons celebrated their second diamond wedding anniversary – 75 years – on Nov. 22, and both say their lives would be profoundly different if it weren’t for each other.
They met while Jean was serving in the Canadian Women’s Army Corps.
She was stationed in Halifax, N.S. when she travelled to Elgin, Manitoba to visit friends in 1946.
Howard, who had lived in Elgin all his life – he is still able to enthusiastically sing his school spirit song – was curious about Jean when he heard of her through mutual friends.
She immediately caught his attention when she first visited Elgin.
When he heard Jean would be back in town, Howard went to a New Year’s Eve dance party with hopes of connecting with her.
“I wouldn’t have been anything without her,” Howard said, sitting beside his wife in their bright living room.
Howard speaks fondly of Jean’s wonderful cooking – “nobody makes pastries like her” – and how she got him dancing.
Jean and Howard were competitive step dancers who entertained at nursing homes.
They were also active in both modern and old time square dancing. They used to perform at the Sunnybrook Veterans Centre in Toronto every month.
The couple taught square dancing to seniors in Bolton as well as students in first grade and high school. Howard continues to be a square dance caller to this day.
Jean and Howard Edgerton holding hands. Photo by Robin George
Their musical pursuits also include playing the fiddle. They travelled across Canada with their fiddling group, to the Maritimes and to Newfoundland.
They were “always busy with the fiddlers and music,” Jean said.
Howard expresses great gratitude for their life, especially their experiences exploring the world.
They owned a motorhome for 23 years and frequently travelled across Canada to visit Jean’s parents. Their international travels have included Ireland, Scotland and New Zealand.
They also raised four children – Shirley, Joyce, Wilfred, and Glen, who passed away from cancer in 2013.
They are papa and nanny to six grandchildren, who still call them that even now that they are grown up.
Jean and Howard also have two great-grandsons, with photos of them proudly on display in their home.
To celebrate their 75th wedding anniversary, their daughters arranged a dinner in the lounge of the retirement community where they’ve lived independently for 13 years.
The couple had two wedding days, an official marriage at their minister’s home in Winnipeg on Nov. 22, 1947, and then a second larger wedding celebration in Jean’s hometown, Renwer, Manitoba.
Jean and Howard moved to Toronto in 1950 to be closer to Howard’s mom and sisters.
Howard worked for the City of Toronto for 25 years, starting out in garbage collection and working his way up to foreman.
He chuckled about how he’s now been retired for 35 years, 10 years longer than the time he spent working for the city.
Jean describes Howard as a “very steady worker,” and assures that without his strong work ethic “we wouldn’t be where we are today.”
The couple moved to Erin in 1994, where they were involved with the Royal Canadian Legion, celebrating birthdays and anniversaries there.
“We went to many parties at the Legion,” Jean said with a smile.
They left Erin for Guelph in 2001 to be closer to the hospital.
For other couples hoping their marriage will last as long as the Edgertons’, Jean recommends accepting there will be “ups and downs,” noting it’s okay not to always get along.
Jean jokes that they’ve been together long enough now, they might as well put up with each other until the end.
