Ellie and Nick Frossinakis are not your average married couple.
After 60 years of being together, they are the proud parents of three daughters, Stella, Athena and Anna and even more proud grandparents to five grandchildren.
Nick and Ellie got married on 29 November, 1959.
“We have shared a number of happy moments together and as many worries, hardships and sorrows, and ‘through thick and thin’ we have chosen to stay together, to love, and care for one another,” says Mr Frossinakis who surprised his soulmate with a cruise to Fiji for their 60th year wedding anniversary.
“What if I told you that the time we had away has brought us even closer,” says Ellie who admits that although her and her husband are very different people, they still manage to find ways to make their marriage flourish, through love, patience and understanding.
Originating from Athens, Ellie, migrated to Australia with her family in 1952, at the age of 14.
She attended Thebarton High School where she met Nick’s sister and quickly became good friends with her.
She met Nick a little later, when the young man relocated to Adelaide from Brisbane.
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The rest was history.
Originally from a small village in Rhodes, and having lost his beloved mother at a very young age, Nick was only 12 years old when he migrated to Australia in 1949 together with his father and brothers, seeking a better future closer to his grandfather, who had already made the journey earlier to Australia in 1928. The love between the young couple grew and at the age of 22, Nick decided to propose to his soulmate.
“We consider ourselves blessed,” says the 81-year-old who to this day enjoys nothing more than spending quality time with his wife, attending social outings and entertaining friends at home.
“I am a very happy soul. I have always been like that. I just love nothing more than making people laugh. I figure, if I can spread joy and make people smile, then why not do that,” continues Nick, whilst emphasising that the secret to a happy marriage or a long term relationship between a couple is the ability to feel each other’s pain and empathise with them.
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“Love, understanding and a lot of patience. That’s what a relationship needs to stay alive,” says Ellie adding that jealousy never had a place in her 60-year long relationship with her husband.
“I have never given Nick a reason to be jealous, and neither has he. I actually think that, in any relationship it is equally important to set boundaries and respect each other’s values and wishes so that nobody gets hurt in the process. Once those foundations are laid, then there is no place for jealousy and drama,” continues Ellie.
“Be kind, make each other laugh and have only patience and love for each another.
“The rest will follow,” concludes the happy couple.