A SIGN OF TRUE LOVE
American names road after one in UK where his late wife grew up
Joseph and sign at home AN American ex-serviceman remembers his late British wife at a street sign from her home town 4,000 miles away.
Joseph DeClemente, 81, fell for Marie in Widnes, Cheshire, while stationed nearby in 1955.
They were married for 63 years until she died in 2017.
As a tribute, he has now named a private road on their Florida property Albert Road, the name of the street where she lived.
Their son Steven, 55, said: “It represents his love, our family’s love and many memories of Widnes, which will never be forgotten.”
Joseph, of Titusville, was 19 and an airman at Burtonwood air base when he fell for 17-year-old Marie and her home town on the banks of Joseph and Marie the River Mersey, which is known for its rugby league team and chemical industry heritage.
Steven said: “Even though my Dad was a typical Yank in so many ways, he embraced the English culture and fell in love with my mum after they met at a dance.
“She definitely played hard to get as girls used to flock to good looking American servicemen but Dad just fell for her straight away.
“He loved fish and chips, local pubs and the countryside but mostly he loved the way of life in England, how friendly people were and the sense of community.”
Three years after they met, Joseph had to return to the US, so the couple wed and moved to New York.
But Marie grew homesick after a year and returned with newborn Steven to Widnes, where musician LOVE LETTER A telegram Joe sent to Marie in Widnes Couple on their big day Paul Simon penned the classic song Homeward Bound in 1965.
Joseph flew to the UK and persuaded her to give life in America another chance. She agreed, if they could visit Widnes once a year.
Steven, of New York, said: “Our family pretty much holidayed in Widnes every year. I always looked with such excitement to return.”
The couple, who had three children, lived in New York and then Florida, before Marie’s death.
Joseph decided to rename the private road at their home in her memory and it was an easy choice.
After talks with Halton Borough Council, a replica Albert Road street sign was sent over.
Steven said: “It only took me one guess – Albert Road.”