Alfred, 90, and Anna Mae, 86, Bedford celebrated their 67th wedding anniversary on December 27, 2008. They were united in marriage on December 27, 1941, at the Emmanuel Lutheran Church in Westerleigh, Staten Island, NY. Alfred and Anna Mae lived across the street from one another on Burnside Avenue in Staten Island before they decided that they were a perfect match for life.
Alfred is an army veteran of World War II. He retired as a mechanic from the Arthur Kill Rehabilitation Center in Staten Island in 1970, then transported his family to Berlin where he worked as a mechanic for the Berlin Central School Bus Garage before retiring in July 1982.
Anna Mae is a homemaker. She spent all of her time caring for her husband, children and grandchildren. Alfred and Anna Mae both loved to bowl. Both retired from bowling due to heart surgery. Alfred loved to pitch horseshoes. He participated in leagues and tournaments all over with his sons, Richard, Edward and William while Anna Mae sat on the sidelines cheering them all on.
They are the parents of fifteen children: Alfred and wife Dottie of Staten Island, Diana and husband Larry Richards of Orlando, FL, Richard and wife Alma of Troy, NY, John of Saratoga, NY, Robert (passed away May 24, 2007) and wife Claudia of North Fort Myers, FL, Lillian (passed away May 12, 1951), Ted and wife Shelly of Grafton, Charles and wife Susan of Berlin, Denise and husband Rusty Anderson of Troy, George and wife Leah of Berlin, Steven of Texas, Edward of Petersburgh, NY, Elizabeth and husband Steve Lawton of Troy, William and fiancÄ Chris of Troy and Kathryn and husband Don Goodermote of Petersburgh.
They have 35 grandchildren: Debbie, Alfred, Patricia, Edward, Laura, Donna, Susan, Michael, Richard Jr. (passed away Sept. 2, 1979), Leola, Zachary, Jolene (passed away Oct. 28, 1988), John Jr. (passed away June 8, 1995), Robert Jr., April, David, Adam, Eve, Wendy, Ted Jr., Ryan, Christopher, Nicole, Stacey (passed away Nov. 12, 1979), Melissa, Michele, George Jr., Sheila, Steven Jr., Kayla, Shannon, William Jr., Sara, Cody and Kaitlyn. They also have 43 great-grandchildren.