Theresa Faiss Dies: Wife In ‘Longest Married Couple’ Passes At 97

Less than a year after she and her husband were recognized as being the longest married couple in America, Theresa Faiss died Sunday in Las Vegas. She was 97.

Fox News reports Teresa and her husband, former state Sen. Wilbur Faiss, celebrated 79 years of wedded bliss in January and, at the time, were honored by the Worldwide Marriage Encounter as being the longest-married couple for 2012.

HuffPo notes the award is given only once to a couple by Worldwide Marriage Encounter, so three other couples at the time might have had longer marriages.

“She was an amazing woman who was adored by her three sons,” Linda Faiss, her daughter-in-law, told the Las Vegas Review-Journal. “Fortunately the family got together a couple of days ago for Dad’s 101st birthday.”

Born September 10, 1915, near Centralia in Clinton County, Illinois, Theresa Watts Faiss met her future soul mate at a roller rink outside of St. Louis, Missouri.

“I was a hot shot on skates and she was by far the most beautiful girl in the audience,” Mr Faiss remembered.

Wilbur showed off for bride-to-be and then skated over to ask her out. She said yes, and, a year later, in 1933, the couple was married.

When asked the “secret” to his and Theresa’s lengthy marriage, Wilbur Faiss simply responded:

“Compromise.”

He then added:

“Every day I ask her how she feels and, ‘Is there anything I can do for you?’ And say, ‘Honey, I still love you.’?”

In addition to her husband, Theresa is survived by her sons, lawyer Robert Faiss and retired hotel executives Ron and Don Faiss; six grandchildren; five great-grandchildren; and four great-great-grandchildren.