Dream girl was hard work

By Bridget Brady
IT TOOK John Barbaressos a few months of chasing before his dream lady would speak to him when they were both teenagers – at least that’s what his wife says.
According to John, they got together “just like everybody else”.
However, it happened, there is no disputing John, 73, and Chryss, 70, Barbaressos are still a happy couple, and they celebrated their 50th wedding anniversary on the weekend.
The Hampton Park pair married in Alexandria in Egypt on 12 December in 1959.
John said he spotted a lady and thought to himself “she is going to live with me for all my life.”
“She’s a good girl. And she’s still good,” he said.
Most importantly, her cooking was superb, John said. “She is number one.”
John joked that it was incredible he had been with the same woman for 50 years.
“It’s a miracle,” he laughed.
Chryss was just 14 when they met and said John was her first love.
“He chased me for a few months before I talked to him … but we have a very good life together.”
The two are members of the Cranbourne Greek Senior Citizens Club, and John says they have had a happy life in the 40 years they have lived in the City of Casey.
“It’s good fun and a good crowd. We have fun every Monday,” John said.
“We came (to Australia) for a better living.”
The couple has three sons and four grandchildren.
“We have had a very nice life together and I hope all my kids do the same,” Chryss said.