“She’s 72. He’s 19. And they’re in love.” 💘 Their relationship stunned everyone — even her own family walked away. But Almeda chose happiness over judgment. See their story and photos in the article below 👇
We’ve all heard the phrase, “Love knows no age,” but most of us don’t expect to see it play out in real life.
This story is about 72-year-old Almeda Errelli and 19-year-old Gary Hardwick, whose relationship has caught the attention of many. The two first met at a heartbreaking moment—at the funeral of Almeda’s younger son. Gary was there to pay his respects, and as he offered his condolences, something unexpected happened. He felt a deep connection with Almeda.
“I was drawn to her right away,” Gary recalled. “Her beautiful blue eyes stood out, and her personality was amazing. We just clicked. There was real chemistry.”
They met again soon afterward at a family gathering at Chuck E. Cheese. Almeda’s widowed son had invited both of them. That second meeting turned into the beginning of something very special.
“When you truly love someone, age doesn’t matter,” Almeda shared. “The moment we met again, I knew he was the one. I felt something I hadn’t felt in years.”
Almeda was unsure at first. She hesitated and didn’t know what to do with the feelings she had. Her female relatives didn’t understand her decision at all and eventually cut off contact with her. They believed the relationship was wrong and told her they wouldn’t speak to her until she ended it.
But despite the criticism, Almeda chose happiness. She and Gary have been together for over a year now, and she says she has no regrets.
“Gary gave me a second chance at life,” Almeda said. “His love made me feel young again. He brought light back into my world.”
At first, the couple kept their relationship a secret. They were afraid of how people would react—and for good reason. Almeda’s family strongly disapproved and even gave her an ultimatum: leave Gary or lose contact with them.
But in the end, Almeda chose love. And she hasn’t looked back since.
