Love and respect­ the Fagan way

By David Dunkley, Staff Reporter

LOVE BEAM: Donald and Icilda Fagan in loving arms. - Ian Allen

SOMETIMES it's good to get straight to the point. Donald Fagan did and he is one of the happiest men alive today.

Donald first saw his wife Icilda at a wedding and her beauty swept him off his feet. He went over to her and told her he wanted her to be his wife and she did not refuse.

Today the couple from St. Elizabeth, are celebrating their 29th wedding anniversary and are looking forward to many more.

Icilda and Donald met in 1972, the same year they were married. At that time Icilda was living with her parents in North Hampton and Donald was a carpenter living at Burnt Ground, not far away.

Donald recalled that they were at a friend's wedding when Icilda caught his eye and he immediately approached her and told her he wanted her. "I told her that I love her and would like to make her my wife," he recalled with a smile on his face. "She said it was okay."

He said he began visiting her regularly and they would often spend quiet evenings together. Soon after, they decided that it was time to get married and they did so on August 7 at the Gilnock Anglican Church.

They are the proud parents of two sons and a daughter, all of whom are not married and live with them. They have three grandchildren.

What is the secret to the longevity of their relationship?

"We just live loving and whatsoever we have to sort out we just talk it over and not let it be something that we go to bed with," Mr. Fagan said. "We always work out whatever there is to work out."

Mrs. Fagan is a member of the Church of God of Jamaica. She is a mother in the church and also sings on the church choir. Her husband suffered a stroke more than three years ago and has since been moving around with the help of a stick. Both are on medication for high blood pressure.

The couple advise those planning to get married to have the uttermost love and mutual respect for each other. "They must make sure to love each other and be obedient to each other," Mrs. Fagan said. "Love is the key and if you dont love each other it doesn't make any sense."

The two did not have to think twice when asked if they would marry each other again. "Yes man, because we love one another and we live good," Mr Fagan was quick to point out.

"If he should pass on I don't think I'd find someone else to fill his space, I'd prefer to do without," Icilda added.

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