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1645 Marthaler Lane, West St. Paul, MN 55118
Cheers to 50 Years!
Raúl and Luisa’s Love Story
Cheers to 50 Years!
Raúl and Luisa’s Love Story
A Blossoming Love
In 1974, DARTS first President Dick Graham was looking for rides for seniors by building a community resource. At the same time, DARTS clients Raúl and Luisa were building a family – and both have lasted all the way to today!
Raúl and Luisa met as neighbors in Puerto Rico. They got engaged in 1973 before being married on February 16, 1974. Luisa explains, ““En Puerto Rico celebran mucho el día de San Valentín” (“In Puerto Rico they really celebrate Valentine’s Day”). In honor of the holiday and their love for one another, the pair chose red and white as their wedding colors, complete with a red and white suit ensemble for Raúl, red and white bouquet for Luisa, and red and white polka dotted dresses for her bridesmaids.
Building a Life
Once married, Luisa worked in a school before becoming a stay-at-home mom to their two children. Raúl drove a gravel truck and later a small passenger van. The family opened two small businesses, including a cafeteria in their home where Luisa served her own homemade recipes. In 1989, with the economic downturn in Puerto Rico, the pair and their two children moved to Minnesota.
Moving from Puerto Rico to Minnesota meant adjusting to a new way of life. Winter driving, for example, challenged even Raúl’s professional driving skills. Over time, however, he was able to adjust. The couple found work in a metal factory and cleaning office buildings on the side. They were able to purchase a home on the East Side of Saint Paul where Raúl spent time on house projects while Luisa spent time planting in her garden and spending time with their grandkids.
Senior Living
After retirement, Raúl found it more difficult get around and perform yard work and home maintenance. “Él ya no podia caminar como antes” (“He could no longer walk like he once did”) shares Luisa. The two decided to sell their house and moved into a senior living building in West St Paul.
“Me encanta aquí” (“I love it here”) says Luisa of her new community. Most days, she can be found making her rounds through the building, saying hello to everyone she meets. Raúl spends time using the fitness center and playing pool with another resident. On Saturdays, Raúl and Luisa attend community potlucks in their building. Luisa says with a smile, “hago platos diferentes y primero siempre comen lo que hago yo” (“I make different dishes and they always eat what I make first”).
Community Connections
In addition to connecting with neighbors, Raúl and Luisa stay connected through events in their community. In April 2024, DARTS began a pilot program providing rides to Spanish-speaking elders with transportation barriers to a weekly Mayores Mejores (Better Elders) group at CLUES. According to Raúl and Luisa’s daughter, Rebecca, “I have seen a difference in them since they started attending the program.”
In January 2024, DARTS and Friends & Co began co-hosting a monthly Café y Conversaciones (Coffee and Conversations) group for Spanish-speaking older adults. The group serves as an additional opportunity to connect, socialize and learn about community resources. After learning about the Wish of a Lifetime program through their connection with the Café y Conversaciones group, Raúl was even granted a wish to return to Puerto Rico to visit his mother on her 98th birthday.
50 Years Together
In February 2024, Raúl and Luisa celebrated their 50th wedding anniversary. When asked about their secret to a long-lasting marriage, Raúl replies, “compartir todo. Nada de ‘esto es mio y esto es tuyo’” (“share everything. Nothing like ‘this is mine, this is yours”). Luisa adds, “no dormirse enojados” (“never go to bed angry”). She also shares that “todo se soluciona con un beso” (“everything can be solved with a kiss”).
Thank you, Raúl and Luisa, for sharing your story with us!
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