Dr. and Mrs. John Julius DeMatte III of Lehighton are celebrating their 60th anniversary today.

Mrs. DeMatte is the former Catherine Cecelia DeFrehn, daughter of Goodwin and Anna DeFrehn. Dr. DeMatte is the son of the John and Romilda DeMatte.

John and Catherine “Kay” were married on July 23, 1966 at SS. Peter and Paul Church, Lehighton.

For John, it was love at first sight. For Catherine, who had never met a man to be such a go-getter as John, it took her a bit longer. John asked Catherine seven times for her hand in marriage before finally acquiescing. It was through the advice of her father Goodwin saying, “Kay, don’t let this one get away” that she chose to spend her life with John.

Now 60 years later, the couple repeats their love story many times with joyful giggles and a smitten twinkle in their eyes. John frames Catherine as the steadfast pillar for his success in career, love and life. Through 60 years of marriage, John has made Catherine the center of his universe and Kay “is forever grateful that “she didn’t let that one get away.”

The couple has two children, John Julius DeMatte IV and Catherine DeMatte Burawski; as well as three grandchildren, Piper Cecelia DeMatte, John Julius DeMatte V and Mia Catherine Burawski.