Wedding bells chime for Cedar Haven couple
Sunday, May 22, 2005
BY MARY KLAUS
Of The Patriot-News 
LEBANON - Don't tell Alberta Moore that Cupid can't find you. 

Moore, a resident of Cedar Haven, waited decades to "meet a nice guy," fall in love and get married. 

Yesterday, the 73-year-old bride married Patrick Joseph Mangan, 57, in a ceremony featuring harp music, happiness and hugs in the nursing home chapel. It was the first wedding for each and the home's first wedding of residents.   "I waited a long time to be a bride," said Moore, who wore a white pantsuit and satin, lace and pearl-trimmed veil and carried a bouquet of roses and baby's breath.  "Patrick is a romantic gentleman," she said. "We met outside and starting talking. Last summer, he kissed me in the magnolia court. In December, he got on one knee and proposed to me. Today, we're getting married. I'm pretty excited."  The wedding, described by one guest as a "12-tissue" event, united the bride who admits loving "all things Elvis" with the groom who once was a Lebanon Catholic High School football star.  The Rev. Luis Rodriguez and the Rev. Philip Nace presided over the 45-minute Catholic ceremony, which began with harpist Joanna Mentzer playing "Trumpet Voluntary" as the wedding party wheeled their wheelchairs down the aisle.  Positioned near ferns and flowers and flanked by Elizabeth Zellers, maid of honor, and Roger Moore, best man, the couple looked solemn during the Scripture readings. They and the congregation of 150 laughed when Rodriguez said that love, like true wine, has to age. 
"Patrick and Alberta have led noble lives," he said. "Now, in the mature years of their lives, they have discovered love between them. Age is irrelevant when it comes to love. No matter what stage of life we are in, we can find love."   The priests performed the marriage ceremony, helping the couple exchange vows, then gold rings. As Moore and Mangan held hands, looked into each others' eyes then exchanged a tender kiss, there were few dry eyes in the congregation.   Moments later, the congregation applauded the newlyweds, who will share a room in the home. Mangan beamed as he proudly pushed his wife's wheelchair down the aisle. She waved joyfully at her family and friends.  "I was attracted to Alberta the minute I saw her," Mangan said, stopping to smile, joke and shake hands with well-wishers. "She's always cheerful and smiling. I love her. This is the happiest day of my life."  Carol Farmer of Fredericksburg, the bride's niece, said that "Aunt Alberta teaches us all to take one day at a time and not get upset at the little stuff." Another niece, Shirley Rabold of Schaefferstown, recalled how her aunt "always had it in the back of her mind that she would marry someday. I'm so happy for her."   Edward Schlegel, Cedar Haven administrator, and Cheryl Frattaroli, therapeutic recreation director, said many pe ople in the nine-story home got involved in the wedding plans.  "This is proof that love is ageless," Schlegel said. "Special moments like this make it all worthwhile."