Dorothy Fideli, a 77-year-old resident of the O’Bannon Terrace retirement community in Goshen, Ohio, has embarked on a singular journey of self-love by getting married to herself.
Fideli celebrated her intense love for herself in a unique wedding ceremony on Saturday, attracting attention and winning admirers. Fideli’s bravery and determination to achieve her long-term goals were on display at the joyful event, which was covered by NBC station WLWT and Today.
In an interview with KCEN, another NBC station, Fideli expressed both excitement and worry. “This is something new for me,” she said, acknowledging her lack of previous experience.
It gives me a certain kind of feeling because I’ve always wanted something. Fideli’s court-married relationship lasted only nine years and ended in divorce in 1965.
When she thought back to her first marriage, she laughed and said, “I wore a black dress, so I was doomed before I even started.
Despite her concerns that it might be too late for her to have her ideal wedding, Fideli had a change of heart. In a quiet moment at church, she decided that she wanted to do something special for herself.
She believed that because she had spent 40 years running her own company, she deserved to be respected for her journey of self-awareness and self-love.
Fideli was inspired by her neighbors who had witnessed such self-marriage on a talk show. Saying, “Now I have a second chance to do something that’ll make me happy,” she seized the opportunity.
As a loving mother of three, Fideli had spent a significant portion of her life raising her children and grandchildren. Now, when her pleasure assumed the spotlight in a brand-new chapter, she gladly accepted it. Fideli enthusiastically remarked, “It’s my turn to do what I want to do,” as reported by Today.
Fideli Pennington’s daughter Donna made her mother’s dream wedding come true. She prepared delicious food for the event, helped Fideli find a dress, and added festive accents like a stunning balloon arch to the retirement facility’s community room.
With the exception of having her children, Fideli sincerely thanked Today and told her daughter, “This is the best thing I’ve ever had. That’s what I’ve always desired. Consequently, I’m thrilled that you gave it to me.
A reassuring reminder of the importance of loving oneself and achieving personal contentment is provided by Dorothy Fideli’s unusual self-marriage.
Her life’s journey stands as a testament to the resilience of the human spirit and the seemingly endless opportunities that are open to us at every stage of life. Fideli provides an example for people to appreciate their wishes, aspirations, and happiness as she welcomes this new chapter, showing us that it’s never too late to enjoy and respect yourself.