Joan and Larry Sanislo make their first toast after renewing their vows during a wedding ceremony at Georges Road Baptist Church in North Brunswick on Sept. 20. The two Milltown residents were married 63 years after eloping on Sept. 20. 1952. REBECCA NOWALSKI Sixty-three years ago, Joan and Larry Sanislo, of Milltown, eloped after a whirlwind summer romance in 1952.
On Sept. 20, the same date that they eloped, Joan, 82, and Larry 83, renewed their vows with a full blown wedding including a white wedding dress, flower girls — Trenier Quander and Natalia Alarcon — a ring bearer Lucas Alarcon, a Bible bearer Damian Walter, a matron of honor, Miriam Averilla, and a best man, Virgilio Averilla, a wedding cake made by friend Nancy Febinger and a reception held at the Georges Road Baptist Church in North Brunswick, where the Sanislos have been members for four years.
“This was the furthest from my mind,” said Joan days before the big day. “I never thought this would have happened and it is fantastic to me. Everyone at the church has been wonderful. Miriam (Averilla) brought me to David’s Bridal to get my gown fitted and took care of everything.”
Joan Sanislo is walked down the aisle by her son, Robert, during her wedding ceremony. REBECCA NOWALSKI Joan said less than two weeks ago she was talking to Averilla and mentioned that she always regretted not having a wedding.
“I think my parents would have wanted their first born to have a wedding and I kind of robbed that from them,” she said. “They loved my husband … everything turned out all good.”
From that conversation, Averilla made it her mission to orchestrate a wedding for the Sanislos.
“I thought it would be a nice gesture for Joan and Larry,” said Averilla.
As Averilla and fellow church member and friend Kathy Keicher helped Joan with the finishing touches, Joan said she felt like she was 19-years-old again.
Memories: Joan and Larry Sanislo on their first date. “I feel blessed,” she said adding that the timing fell right into place. “Our anniversary happened to fall on Sunday.”
Larry said he felt excited before the wedding as he practiced his vows.
A music prelude was performed by Salvatore Giglio as Joan walked down the aisle with her son Robert.
When Pastor Norm Walter asked who was consenting to the marriage, Robert said he, along with his sisters, Cheryl Lynn and Joni Lynn.
Both Larry and Joan wiped away tears as they read their vows. Neil Samson sang “Because” for the bride and groom.
Joan and Larry grew up in New Brunswick.
“We went to high school together and were in the same homeroom,” she said. “However, we never dated until the last day of school at our senior picnic.”
Joan said she thought Larry was well-mannered, which she liked, but never thought of dating him.
It was at their senior picnic that sparks flew, a whirlwind courtship ensued and that fall, Joan and Larry traveled down to Elkton, Maryland, and eloped.
“We then traveled to Niagara Falls for the weekend,” said Joan.
When the two young newlyweds returned home, they told their parents.
“No one knew … they were shocked,” recalled Joan with a laugh. “We had rented an apartment together and I took extra items that my mom had such as the ironing board.” The Sanislos lived in Metuchen and then moved to Edison. Joan said, when Larry joined the U. S. Army, she followed him.
The Sanislos now live in Milltown where they have resided for 36 years. They have three children — Cheryl Lynn Brown, Joni Lynn Anderson and Robert Sanislo, 11 grandchildren and 15 great-grandchildren. “Every family member who I told about the wedding was flabbergasted,” said Joan with a laugh. “They were dumbfounded.”
Robert Sanislo said it’s not every day that a son gets to walk his mom down the aisle. “I think it’s great,” he said. “They are very excited.”
Joan said most of her family made it to the wedding including son and daughter-in-law, Robert and Ingrid Sanislo, granddaughters, Brittany, Alysa and Faith Sanislo; daughter and son-in-law, Cheryl and Kevin Brown; her sister and brother-in-law, Debra and Doug DeHaven; and nephew, Vincent Paul DeHaven; and sister, Barbara Shaffer.
She said her other daughter Joni Lynn Anderson and her family were not able to attend because they live in Georgia.
Joan said she probably couldn’t have planned a better wedding 63 years ago.
“It’s everything that I dreamt about,” she said. “A white country church that has a steeple with a bell, stained glass windows, wooden pews and a pastor and his wife whom I adore [surrounded by] family and friends that I love.”
Joan said she hopes her love story reaches others.
“I believe we have stayed together as long as we have because when things get tough, I remember the good times and why we fell in love,” she said. “I remember when we bought our first house and when our first child was born … those are the precious moments I think of.”