Wedding Bells at Sarah Neuman!

More than 150 residents, families and staff packed the Tisch Auditorium on November 27 for a reenactment of the wedding of a young couple that met at Sarah Neuman while visiting their grandmothers.

Lani McCann and Jack Pessin were married November 3. Lani’s grandmother, Wendy, a Sarah Neuman resident, was unable to attend that ceremony due to fragile health. Lani’s mother, Della McCann, suggested a reenactment of the wedding for pau pau, the Chinese name for grandmother.

Lani’s grandmother Wendy was the roommate of the groom’s grandmother, Frances Venefsky, and it was Frances who played matchmaker and organized the couple’s fist date. Venefsky died two weeks after arranging the meeting; Pessin explained it was his grandmother’s biggest hope and last wish that he find a soulmate.

The delightful non-denominational ceremony was presided over by Administrator Rita Morgan. Morgan followed the text of the original wedding supplied by Lani’s mom, adding her own personal touches about pau pau, the couple, our staff, and life at Sarah Neuman.

After Lani and Jack “tied the knot,” residents, staff and family members danced in the aisles, tapped their toes and clapped their hands to the music of Robert Church. 

And in case two ceremonies were not enough to unite this couple, the ceremony was covered by The Today Show, News 12 and Gannett Newspapers.