Words June Murray Dagnall
Photo Wind Gypsy Photography
All over the world, Valentine’s Day invites reflection on love and how it began, how it grew and how it endures. Beyond flowers and cards are stories of devotion shaped by time, resilience and quiet perseverance.
For Connie and Lloyd, love is not marked by grand gestures, but by presence, loyalty and the simple comfort of being together.
Connie, the eldest by many years, grew up fiercely independent. Raised almost as an only child and later separated from her parents and siblings when the family moved provinces, she remained behind with her grandmother. From a young age, Connie learned to rely on herself – practical, logical and extremely self-sufficient.
Lloyd’s upbringing was very different. The only surviving child of his parents, he grew especially close to his mother after losing his father at a young age. Sensitive by nature, Lloyd learned to balance a tender heart with resilience. Though raised “tough,” his gentler side was always present, and it is that side that now shines in the way he cares for Connie.
Their love story began in the 1950s at a dance in New Westminster. Connie remembers spotting Lloyd outside the Legion Hall and thinking: “Oh wow.” Lloyd remembers being terrified as he was not a good dancer, however he was determined enough to ask Connie anyway. That moment of courage led to a lifetime together. Not long after, they crossed the border to Bellingham to be married, beginning a beautiful partnership that spans decades.
They have shared countless adventures, big and small. Connie fondly recalls a cruise from Los Angeles to Mexico, walking inside a pyramid filled with unexpected light, and riding a horse while wearing a dress and high heels, fearless and full of joy. Even now, laughter comes easily between them. Connie teases Lloyd about walking “like an old farmer,” and Lloyd laughs, a testament to their affection still intact.
In February 2024, their lives changed dramatically: Connie fell at home and broke her hip. The injury and prolonged hospitalization caused her condition to decline as she struggled with pain and medication. By the summer, she insisted on returning home. Lloyd, driven by love and responsibility, brought her home against the doctor’s advice. At 92 years old and recovering from cancer himself, he became Connie’s primary caregiver, looking after her with love and devotion day and night.
During those weeks, Lloyd gained a profound appreciation for all Connie had managed throughout their lives together. It was now his turn to give back. He gave everything he had, although his strength eventually failed, and after three-and-a-half weeks, Connie returned to the hospital.
Connie lives with the belief that she will one day go home, and maintaining this hope is essential for her to keep trying every single day. During this time, Lloyd went to the hospital twice daily to see his beautiful Connie. He managed to look after their home alone until December 2024, when he fell and broke his own hip while leaving the hospital after visiting her.
In March 2025, Connie moved to Extended Care at Saanich Peninsula Hospital. Days later, Lloyd joined her through couples’ unification. Carrying only his toothbrush, he walked away from their home of decades, without looking back, wanting to be as close to Connie as possible.
Today, Connie and Lloyd live just a few doors apart in extended care. They share meals, attend concerts and visit each other’s rooms when one is too tired to go out. When asked what they cherish most, they answer almost in perfect unison: “Just being together.”
Valentine’s Day holds little meaning now, Connie says shyly. Love, however, surrounds them in quiet visits, shared laughter and the simple choice to show up for each other every day. Their advice to all couples is timeless: Work hard, listen to your partner, and live life fully.
This February 14, Lloyd and Connie show us that love doesn’t need to be grand. Sometimes love is quiet, familiar, and rooted in choosing one another again and again. Nothing more, nothing less, just being together!
