Love Story Over 56 Years In The Making Ends In Coronavirus Death

OAK FOREST, IL — An Oak Forest resident of 25 years died from COVID-19 in late November, leaving behind a loving family and ending a love story of more than a half-century. Aldo Murer, 80, left behind his kids, grandkids and wife of 56 years.

Murer, his wife Joanne and a few other family members all contracted the virus. Joanne suffered minor symptoms, while Aldo was hospitalized for 14 days. Just when doctors believed he was getting better, things took a turn, and Aldo died, according to family.

The grandfather was a veteran and family man, according to his granddaughter, Brittany Haupt. She remembers her early memories as a child with her grandfather being full of laughs.

"I remember that my grandpa would always come in the room at a sleep over and make these Sylvester, Tweety or Donald Duck voices before I went to bed ... he always had a joke to tell," Haupt said. "He always made sly comments to my grandma, like, telling her she looks good, or reminding her all the memories they had, such as taking the road trips together."

Joanne and Aldo were married in 1964. They have three kids, eight grandkids and a novel love story, according to Haupt.

"They actually grew up two blocks away from each other. In 1961, they began dating, and continued to date for four years," Haupt said. "They were even in the same accordion class growing up, but they didn't know until later in life."

Haupt said Aldo was very persistent with his intentions to marry Joanne, who rejected his proposals on several occasions.

"My grandpa actually proposed to her multiple times, but she told him no because she wanted to finish school. She was becoming a teacher," Haupt said. "So they dated for that time, and on Aug. 1, 1964, they got married, and later moved to Oak Forest."

Joanne worked at St. Damian School in Oak Forest for 25 years before retiring. Aldo was a union bricklayer his entire working career, according to Haupt.

"My grandpa did everything for her, especially with COVID going on. He wouldn't let her leave the house. He did all the shopping ... they would go out now and then, but he did all of it," Haupt said. "His last words to her in person were 'don't leave me, I love you' ... and it has been really hard for all of us."

Haupt said Aldo was very loveable and a selfless man who would always help everyone around him.

"My grandpa loved my grandma more than anything in the world. He truly did. He did all the little things for her ... Every holiday, he would come home with a card without thinking twice," Haupt said. "I think just knowing that he was such a humble man ... He would snowplow for the neighbor across the street, she's an elderly woman too. He would bring up her garbage and clean the sidewalks ... he just did things for those around him. It's who he was."

Haupt said her grandparents' love story is inspiring, and she won't ever get tired of hearing it.

"I think it's just the story of how they started their relationship, how my grandma had turned him down a few times, but he still kept pushing to be with her, and that they were best friends who did everything together ... that really gets to me," Haupt said. "It is hard on all of us, but I know it's going to take a toll on my grandma not having him here anymore."

According to Haupt, Aldo and Joanne never missed a family event and always came together, no matter what it was.

"They never missed a birthday. They went to every single one of our sporting events growing up, Haupt said. "All those memories, they were always there and never missed anything."

Haupt said she believes COVID-19 can affect anyone at any time and warned others to take it seriously.

"If I could say something to anyone reading this ... just wear a mask and hold on to your loved ones," she said. "You never think it'll happen to you until it does."