According to Kathleen, the Little’s oldest daughter, there is an overarching theme of commitment to each other—no matter what and never wavering.
John and Mary Ellen Little, residents at Country Meadow’s West Shore campus, met in high school. They were introduced by a mutual friend while John was putting on his sneakers before track and field practice. He was smitten at first sight.
“He was so distracted, he put his shoes on the wrong feet,” giggled Mary Ellen. “I got lost in her eyes,” added John.
After they graduated high school, John entered the Marine Corps and Mary Ellen went to nursing school. “At the time, the program had a rule that you couldn’t get married until the last six months of the program to ensure we could finish before starting a family,” described Mary Ellen.
The couple celebrated their love for each other soon after in December 1958 at the same church Mary Ellen grew up attending—Monroe Avenue Methodist Church in Rochester, New York—complete with military traditions such as the Arch of Swords and sword cake cutting.
After being sent off by friends and family, the newlyweds honeymooned at Lake Saranac in the Adirondack Mountains of New York state. The couple remembers there being snow up to their waists. That didn’t stop them from venturing into a nearby forest to cut down their very first Christmas tree as a married couple and enjoying a romantic sleigh ride during their getaway.
Soon after, John’s military obligations moved the couple to Camp Lejeune in North Carolina where they set up their first home and started their family. Later they moved back up north to the New England area where they raised three children, were involved in their church and community and had a lot of fun together doing winter sports including cross country skiing. Today, John and Mary Ellen call Mechanicsburg, Pennsylvania home, which is close to Kathleen, their grandchildren and great grandchildren.
Kathleen described her parents as extremely generous people with all their relationships in their life. They were dedicated caregivers and constant examples of love and support even in difficult times.
Mary Ellen’s advice for couples today: Be forgiving to one another and willing to pray together. It’s all because of God’s goodness and grace that He pours out every day. Without Him, we wouldn’t be able to do it.
All our campuses are filled with stories of love and commitment. Couples have been married for decades and others who are getting a second chance at love. Read more about what life is like for our residents.