By Shaun Inguanzo
BERNARD Condict never imagined falling in love after his wife passed away 11 years ago.
The 78-year-old Noble Park University of the Third Age computer tutor had convinced himself it was time to move on.
But when Hazel Angus, aged79, arrived on the scene she unearthed the feelings he had almost forgotten.
The couple will marry next month and prove that true love is open to all ages.
“I would never ever have dreamed that I would be in love like this again,” Bernard said.
“I thought it was all over when my wife passed away. But then Hazel come along and turned my world upside-down.”
Last year Hazel’s husband died following a battle with prostate cancer and Bernard helped her through a tough period of grief.
“It was a hard time for her without a doubt,” he said.
“I did an awful lot of counselling, at one stage she was very down and appeared almost suicidal.
“But I and others managed to get her back round again.”
Hazel admits that Bernard was her lifeline and she felt he understood her situation, given his own. The couple fell in love soon after and Bernard wasted no time in pursuing Hazel’s hand.
In October last year they went on a cruise and Bernard persisted through several rejections to eventually convince Hazel to marry him. Hazel said the decision was difficult because, while she loved Bernard, her family had difficulty coming to terms with her remarrying.
“They couldn’t understand that nothing will ever change my feelings for my husband but now Bernard is my life.”
The couple is so excited they have had postage stamps with their photo printed to attach to letters of thanks. The ceremony will be held on 12 August at the Anglican Church of the Ascension in Springvale.