METHUEN — Josephine was on a mission over 60 years ago. Her friends and she went to a dance hall in Lowell.
“My friends and I were looking to try and find a boyfriend,” Josephine said. “We had been to places in Boston and we weren’t satisfied.”
So they made the trek to Lowell. The girls stood around the ballroom, waiting both patiently and — maybe a bit — nervously as well. They had to wait for the guy to ask them to dance.
Once Donald Gagnon went up to ask her to dance, the rest is history. Josephine went back the next week, and Donald said he was very nervous to dance again.
“After that we started dating,” Josephine said, adding Donald asked her to marry him three months later.
With Valentine’s Day coming up, the Gagnons do not have anything in particular planned, but they said they are expecting to spend the time together.
Donald, 94, said the key to their marriage is “touch” and being together, as he reached for Josephine’s hand and intertwined their fingers.
“He’s very easy to get along with,” Josephine, 87, said.
When he proposed, Josephine said she wasn’t even sure she heard Donald correctly and had to ask him the next time they saw each other if he really did propose.
“That was in December and we were married the following October,” Josephine said, adding the couple has now been married for 61 years.
Josephine became a stay-at-home mom. Donald joked he “stole her from Mass General,” where Josephine had been a head nurse. The Gagnons had two children, and they now have six grandchildren.
Donald worked at Raytheon, and before that he was a “radio guy,” as Josephine calls it, on U.S.-based aircraft carriers for the Navy.
But the values of families carried the two throughout the years, Josephine said. Donald even credits Josephine for his health.
“I wouldn’t be here if it wasn’t for her,” Donald said. “She takes good care of me.”
Josephine joked that it’s “just my nursing background.” She said she “makes sure he does what he’s supposed to do.” Now, the Gagnon’s daughter is also in nursing and helps with the care.
“We’ve been very, very fortunate,” Josephine said. “We’ve had health problems but we’re still here.”
Donald said some of his favorite memories with Josephine were from the travels the couple took over the years, proving love is able to go the extra mile no matter where in the world it took them.
Donald’s favorite was a trip to Alaska, especially walking through the glaciers. Josephine said they also visited national parks. They traveled to Europe as well, and “did some little day trips.”
Even when they were far from home, though, the two had been growing deep roots within the Methuen community.
“We bought a house in Methuen and we’re still in the same house,” Josephine said.
The two have been part of the Methuen community. When their son became an Eagle Scout, Josephine was the den mother, Donald said looking at her proudly.
“I helped him with the Cub Scouts,” Donald said. “We did experiments for it.”
Josephine was also involved with the League of Women Voters. Donald took part in some photography clubs, and now the two of them spend time together at the Methuen Senior Center.
“We used to come for exercises four days a week before COVID,” Josephine said. Now they come for different events and discussion groups when they’re able to. “This is a wonderful place for us.”
And the senior center staff obviously loves them as well. They all called the Gagnons “cute” and the “best couple around.”
“We’ve had a good life together,” Donald said.
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