“Rob, you’re going to marry me,” Dottie Fideli told the man. And she wanted a big wedding.
It might not seem like such an outlandish thing to say — until you consider that Fideli is 77 years old and that Rob is the proper manager of the retirement home where she lives in Goshen, Ohio.
Add to that the fact that there’s no groom, and the real-life story suddenly becomes very unique indeed.
How a Senior Lady Ended up Marrying Herself
Rob looked up from his desk and replied, “You’re…what?”
That’s when Fideli explained her plan.
“I said, you know what, I’ve done everything else. Why not? I’m going to marry myself.”
She had spent her whole life helping others, so the idea of throwing a big wedding for herself had simply not been a priority.
Just one of the things she does
But to those who knew Dorothy "Dottie" Fideli well, her decision was well within character. It fit right in with “just one of my things that I normally do,” said the 77-year-old, who never bats an eye at going after what she wants.
One of her most recent accomplishments has been teaching herself to read, years into her seventh decade.
Rob remembers it well, even though Fideli tried to keep the learning process under wraps. She’d stay up late into the night, studying. For 75 years, she’d never known how to read. But through sheer will and determination, she proved that it’s never too late to learn.
One day, she triumphantly walked into Rob’s office and started reading some paperwork on his desk aloud. The property manager was astonished.
“I read more now than I ever did,” said Fideli, “and it takes me a while to read just one page. But I keep reading until I think I got every word.” The next challenge that she’s set for herself is to read the Bible. “I’ve learned the Bible through singing songs. Now, I’m understanding it as a story.”
Honoring a woman who has always honored others
So even though Rob had to ask Dottie to repeat her big wedding day plan, it didn’t take long to convince him to be part of it. He was thrilled to be able to honor Fideli in a way as unique as she is. “She is a very incredible woman and she is full of life. She has always thought of others.”
“I do some crazy things around here just to make people laugh,” Fideli admitted. “When I see them all down in the dumps, I go get one of my outfits on and dress up and come down, and they smile.”
Now, she wanted an outfit that would make her smile. Fideli called her daughter, Donna Pennington, to pitch her idea. Donna was ecstatic. She began penciling in dates to go dress shopping, order food and buy decorations.
The big wedding she deserved
It wasn’t the first time Fideli had gotten married, but her first marriage took place at the Justice of the Peace in 1965.
Fideli never got the big ceremony she had wished for.
After exchanging vows, “he went to work and I went home,” she said. She’d also worn a black dress. This time, she wanted the whole deal — a gorgeous white wedding gown and a reception with all her friends and family.
“I’m at the point in my life where it’s about me now,” Fideli explained. Her kids are grown, and one of her grandchildren is going to have a baby soon. “It’s my turn to do what I want to do.”
Her daughter was more than happy to make it happen. She decorated the community room from top to bottom, did all the cooking, and made heart-shaped cookies and wedding-bell-shaped finger sandwiches. There was even a beautiful two-tiered wedding cake, white with red roses. Fideli walked proudly down the aisle in a flowing gown and beaded veil.
“I told my daughter,” Fideli said, “this is the best thing that I’ve ever had, outside of having you kids. This is what I’ve always wanted and I’m so happy.”
The importance of self-love
During the ceremony, Fideli admits that she was nervous at first, but that that nervousness soon dissipated and was replaced with pure joy.
Under a balloon arch, instead of professing her love and loyalty to someone else, she took a single white lily and held it up before her guests. Then, she spoke of the importance of cultivating self-love.
“Everybody takes this outside lily. And they live their life and they think they’re happy and everything’s going to be hunky-dory, but they don’t consider the inside, the little petals inside. The inside is what’s important. That’s where God’s love flows, that’s where He gives you wisdom and He gives you hope. And nobody ever takes time to think about that. So that’s what I’ve done, and I’d appreciate it if all of you people would do it and think of it that way.”
Surrounded by family and friends, Fideli took time to honor herself, her strength and her dedication to others, and to celebrate a life well lived.
Her message is to love others but to also love oneself.
Military Dad Defends His 4 Little Daughters When Strangers Make This Rude Remark
Military Dad of 4 Daughters Defends His Girls When Strangers Make This Rude Remark
Austin von Letkemann is the military officer strangers feel "sorry" for — and the reason is infuriating.
Whenever the devoted father leaves the house with his four children, strangers can't help but notice the officer in uniform is holding hands with 4 adorable little girls. They will tell the traditionally "masculine" and "all American" dad they feel sorry for him, because he has no sons. This dad makes one thing very clear: They are his daughters, they aren't a burden.
In a passionate video, von Letkemann took to Instagram to share with his followers that the only thing that's "difficult" about being a girl dad — is clapping back to these sexist remarks over and over again.
They Mock His Daughters To Their Face
When strangers approach Austin von Letkemann and his four daughters, they don't always realize that their comments are being overheard. They seem oblivious to the fact that his girls understand every word. Von Letkemann describes how people will approach him and, without thinking, make remarks like "I'm sorry" or even joke about his lack of sons. What they don't realize is that these comments, intended to be light-hearted or humorous, can be deeply hurtful to his daughters. These strangers are not just disrespecting von Letkemann's choices as a father; they're also sending a message to his daughters that their presence is something to be pitied. It’s a message that von Letkemann won't stand for, and he's speaking out to defend his girls from these insensitive remarksSaying "Get Your Shotgun" Isn't Funny — It's Sexist
Another common comment that Austin von Letkemann encounters is the old "better get your shotgun ready" trope, often delivered with a smirk or a wink. This line is typically intended to suggest that a father with daughters should be on high alert to protect them from potential "suitors," implying that they are objects to be guarded rather than individuals with agency.
Von Letkemann finds this line of thinking outdated and sexist. In his viral Instagram video, he points out that these jokes are not just stale — they're damaging.
By suggesting that his daughters require armed protection, the joke reinforces the idea that women are inherently vulnerable and need to be shielded from men. Von Letkemann argues that instead of promoting this narrative, society should focus on teaching respect and consent, challenging these sexist tropes at their source.
Watch Austin von Letkemann's Video:
"If I Had A Fifth Child, I'd HOPE It Was A Girl" — One Dad's Message For Other Parents
Despite the constant remarks about his lack of sons, Austin von Letkemann is clear: He wouldn't trade his daughters for anything.
In fact, he told his Instagram followers that if he were to have a fifth child, he would hope for another girl. This declaration isn't just about doubling down on his pride in his family — it's a pointed response to those who see fathering daughters as a misfortune.
Von Letkemann's stance is a powerful one, rejecting the notion that a family is incomplete without sons. He encourages others to question the assumptions behind these comments and to appreciate the joy and fulfillment that his daughters bring. By sharing his story, von Letkemann hopes to create a more inclusive perspective on fatherhood, one that values daughters just as much as sons.