Nearly 80 cherished years of ‘I do’

My mom calls themselves the “holiday” couple. My dad was born on New Year’s Day, Jan. 1, 1918, and my mom was born on Valentine’s Day, Feb. 14, 1921.
    

They were married on a Wednesday, because as tradition had it, according to Lorraine, Wednesday was the day to “Wed.”
    

On the Friday following their wedding, they arrived at a restaurant in Biloxi, their honeymoon destination, to eat lunch. As any good Catholic would know, back in the day, you abstained from meat on Fridays. The brand-new groom totally forgot and ordered a huge ham steak! Eighty years later, he still recalls that oversight and says with a smile, “What was I thinking!”
    

We recently asked them to share their “secret” to a long, happy marriage. It was simple: unwavering faith and trust in God and a deep love for each other. They experienced their share of joys and trials along the way but always lived by “God’s will be done.”
    

The blessing of their large family is the source of their greatest pride: seven children, 22 grandchildren and 36 great-grandchildren. They raised their family in St. James Major Parish. 
 

Connected in faith
    

Their five sons – O.J. LaCour Jr., Ronald LaCour, Dr. Charles LaCour, Barry LaCour and Dr. Eddie LaCour – all served as altar boys (some alongside the future Archbishop Gregory Aymond). Their two daughters, Judy LaCour Drez and Karen LaCour Puente, were walked by their dad down the aisle to the same altar.
    

My mom and dad met in their teens at an ice cream parlor. He was an alumnus of St. Aloysius High School (my dad is the oldest living alum), and she was a graduate of John McDonogh High School. They fell in love, married and began their 80-year union. My dad was always hard-working, disciplined and diligent. He founded Bonded Carbon and Ribbon Co., an office supply business, to support his family. Later, he passed the company on to two of his sons but continued to be very active in the business and was still making sales calls well into his 80s. My mom was a dedicated, devoted homemaker, always caring for her large family.
    

They were role models of faith. Having a strong devotion to Our Blessed Mother, they prayed the rosary every night and continue the practice to this day, never going to sleep before praying the rosary and completing their long lists of prayer intentions.
    

We affectionately call them “Mumsy” and “Pop.” They have hosted the LaCour family Christmas Eve celebration for nearly 55 years. Mumsy’s cocktail oyster patties are always anticipated and savored, and the ever-growing number of great-grandchildren are wide-eyed as Santa Claus arrives with his bounty of gifts for everyone.
    

Relatives, friends and strangers alike can testify to their boundless generosity. They have always believed in giving back and sharing with those in need, with the church and others, all in a quiet manner.
    

Through the years, Lorraine and Owen have always put each other first, but respected each other’s interests. He was an avid golfer; she was a very sharp bridge player. However, even during trying times, they always managed to have their “date nights.” 
    

In the early years, they would put aside a little money each week until they had saved enough to have a special evening of dining and dancing at the Roosevelt Hotel’s Blue Room.
    

They’ve always enjoyed each other’s company, dining, dancing, traveling. Still today, they enjoy their own “happy hour” with their martinis before lunch.
    

Is it any wonder that Owen’s favorite tune is the 1928 hit song “Sweet Lorraine”?