In Michigan, volunteers at a library stumbled upon a set of wedding photos from 1953 belonging to a newlywed couple, which holds significant sentimental value. Despite the couple being deceased, the library decided to return the photo to their granddaughter, potentially becoming a cherished family heirloom.
This heartwarming discovery took place in Sterling Heights, a city in southeast Michigan. Recently, the Sterling Heights Public Library posted on Facebook under the title “Lost and Found Love Stories,” sharing their finding of a beautiful wedding photo inside a donated book. They expressed their desire to reunite the photo with the family of the individuals involved.
The library shared the photo online, revealing the names Frank and Josephine Ruggirello inscribed on the back.
The post read: “Do you recognize this happy couple? Or do you know who this memory might belong to? Help us complete this story!”
Later, a woman named Sarah Ruggirello replied on Facebook, saying: “Hi! This is a photo of my grandparents on their wedding day! Can I come pick it up? My grandpa passed away in 2020, and my grandma in 2023, so I know my family would love to have it.”
After receiving a response from the library, Sarah went to collect the photo from the public relations coordinator, Anneliese White. The moment of them reuniting and embracing was truly heartwarming.
Sarah told WXYZ TV that a childhood friend had tagged her in the post. She hadn’t been in touch with this friend for many years, and seeing her surname mentioned prompted the friend to ask: “Hey, are these your family?”
She revealed that her grandparents, of Sicilian descent, got married on September 26, 1953, in Detroit. They raised five children and shared a 67-year-long marriage, her grandfather passing away in 2020 and her grandmother in 2023.
Sarah expressed her excitement, “It’s so cool, we’ve never seen… my dad and I have never seen this photo. We never even knew it existed.”
She spoke fondly of her close relationship with her grandparents, mentioning how much her entire family adored them during their upbringing, with Sunday dinners together being a cherished tradition. To her, they were the best grandparents in the world.
She said, “I think I’m going to frame it and have it displayed somewhere in the house because this is a cool story, a really cool story that happened.”
White commented, “The puzzle has been solved, surely with some romantic elements. It’s a feel-good story.”
This heartening tale of love and family connection touched many, showcasing the enduring power of treasured memories and the importance of preserving family history.