Thursday, March 27, 2025
Surrounded by friends, Pauline Conner, a 97-year-old resident of Hillside Medical Lodge, enjoyed being a bride for a day.
Conner was surprised by the Activities Department with a wedding since she was never able to have a ceremony with her late husband, Burnard Conner, who sadly passed away in 1975 due to a heart attack.
After being married for 28 years, Conner said that she would never get married again after Burnard’s passing and she didn’t think she could love someone as much as she loved her husband.
Activities Director Kami Williams and Assistant Director Rachel DeLeon provided Conner with a wedding dress and a veil, was able to have her hair and makeup done, received a bouquet of flowers, took wedding photos, and had wedding cake and punch.
Conner is originally from England, and, in 1943, at 18 years old, she met the love of her life while he was stationed in her home country. She was working at a grocery store at the time, and Burnard came up with reasons to keep shopping there until he convinced her to go on a date.
Conner’s daughter mentioned that her grandmother did not want her mother dating a serviceman.
In 1945, the couple were separated due to Burnard being reassigned to the United States. Burnard was in the Army Corps, which is now known as the Air Force.
They were soon reunited after Conner travelled by freight ship for 10 days to the U.S. in 1946.
Burnard was waiting at a dock in Mobile, AL with a preacher by his side when she arrived.
Conner expressed that it was a Godsend that she got a ticket for the freight boat since they were only letting people who were married board.
The couple went to the preacher’s house right away to get married with only strangers as witnesses. They do not have any photos from their wedding day since it was so sudden.
They later settled near the Bee House community where Burnard is from. They had three children together, and Conner became a rancher and farmer’s wife.
Conner expressed that she is very thankful for the time she had with her husband and that she loves her life and the memories that were made.
She said that having the wedding at Hillside made her feel very special and she never dreamed she would have a real wedding. She enjoyed every moment while reminiscing on all of the wonderful memories her and her husband made together.
