Isis House resident Josie Griffiths, aged 93, and husband Eddie Griffiths, aged 89, renewed their wedding vows after 63 years of marriage. This milestone celebration was extra special as it also included a blessing at the care home for their recently married granddaughter Grace Peden and her husband, James Peden.

The celebration kicked off with welcome drinks at the care home, followed by a blessing for Grace and James by the parish Catholic priest. Grace wore her wedding dress and her bridesmaids, sisters Olivia and Emily, accompanied her during the event. Afterwards, grandparents Josie and Eddie renewed their vows in a ceremony featuring family readings and music.

Around 40 guests attended, including Bob Shankly, HR Director at BMW Group in Cowley, Oxford, where Josie and Eddie first met in the 1950s. Following the ceremony, guests enjoyed a reception and savoury buffet specially prepared by the home’s chef, complete with a wedding cake to mark the occasion.

Josie’s daughter, and Grace’s mother, Teresa, shared that her mother viewed the event as a blessing in itself, as she was unable to attend Grace and James’s wedding in Bristol. Teresa said: “It was a really wonderful family day, the enthusiasm of the staff in Isis House was incredible. They were behind us from day one and it made it a wonderful family day - the staff at Isis House are like family to us, how they care for mum. My daughter had the idea to include my mum in her wedding as unfortunately she couldn’t travel on that day, so we came to her. It all came together with everyone’s help and we had a very magical family day. It’s meant everything to us as my daughter’s wedding was the one thing my mum never forgot was happening and every time we went into Isis House, she asked – ‘when’s the wedding, have I missed it?’. She never forgot it. So we are so glad she could be there for it and we’re very grateful to everyone for putting on such a great day for our family.” 

Josie, originally from Ireland, moved to the UK in the mid-1950s. In 1959, she met Eddie while working at the Cowley car factory; Eddie cut out the leather for the car seats, and Josie stitched them together.  They married two years later in Oxford. Together, they raised three children - Chris, Caroline, and Teresa - and now have seven granddaughters: Niamh, Olivia, Emily, Ellie, Amelia, Bethany, and of course Grace. The couple’s strong Catholic faith has been a central part of their lives, and they have remained dedicated churchgoers throughout the years.

This celebration brought together multiple generations, highlighting the family’s deep roots and the grandparents’ enduring love over more than six decades. It was a day not only to honour Josephine and Edward’s lifelong commitment but also to celebrate the future with Grace and James.