It’s never too late to find love again ? just ask Marco ‘Mike? Maniace and Marie Pearce.
This cute couple living at Independence Village of Waterstone got engaged on Christmas Eve last year.
Maniace’s 91-years-old and Pearce is 94.
‘She’s a great gal and I love her for it,? said Maniace, a General Motors retiree and World War II Navy veteran. ‘She’s a lot of fun to be around.?
‘Every morning when I wake up I have something to look forward to. I know he’s always going to be there,? said Pearce, a New York native who’s lived in Oxford since 1947 and a former Registered Nurse with master’s degrees in nursing and education.
The couple’s known each other for about four years. They met when Maniace moved from Florida to Independence Village following the death of his wife of 65 years, Louise, in 2002.
‘When I walked in the door, she spotted me and said, ‘That man is mine,?? Maniace said. ‘That’s what she told me.?
Pearce, who’s lived at Independence Village for almost six years, chuckled and said that’s not quite the way it happened. The two got acquainted when she invited him to help build a doll house, one of her hobbies.
Maniace and Pearce hit it off right away and started spending loads of time together. ‘We really enjoyed each other’s company,? Maniace said. ‘We’re together all the time.?
‘I like our connection,? said Pearce, who noted she loves his mustache and the way he reminds her of Marlon Brando/Don Vito Corleone in The Godfather. ‘It’s a very nice feeling to have somebody.?
Maniace credits Pearce with keeping him active and social. ‘If I hadn’t met her, I think I’d have stayed locked up in my room most of the time,? he said. ‘With her, if I don’t move she pushes me.?
‘We enjoy doing everything together,? Pearce said. ‘I keep him posted on what we’re doing next. I sign up for everything. They have a very active program here.?
About three years ago, the couple was discussing the future and their relationship. At the time, both agreed they didn’t want to get married again.
Pearce had been married to her husband Paul, who was ‘famous? around here for restoring Indian motorcycles, for 53 years before he passed in 1998.
She suggested they get engaged instead.
‘It took me three years to decide,? Maniace joked. On Christmas Eve, he asked Pearce if she was still interested in getting engaged.
When she said yes, he presented her with a stunning diamond ring from Mark A. Young Jewelers in downtown Oxford. ‘He just wanted to be sure he had me,? Pearce joked.
‘In other words, she made sure she had a hook on me,? Maniace said.
The couple’s families and friends wholeheartedly approved of the engagement.
‘They’re all very pleased,? Pearce said. ‘I was surprised, I really was. I think they like our relationship.?
‘I thought I would get some arguments (from my family), but they loved it,? Maniace said.
Don’t expect a big wedding anytime soon. ‘It’s going to be a very long engagement,? Pearce said. ‘We’ve got to make a lot of arrangements. It will be a long time before we do anything.?
That’s okay because in the end all that matters is two people in the twilight of their lives found love and companionship when they weren’t even looking. ‘I think it’s better that way,? Pearce said.