St. Francis volunteers wear hearts on their sleeves

At St. Francis Hospital in Flower Hill, they fix hearts.

That might explain why among the hospital's volunteers, there are 20 married couples - and nearly all of them include at least one former patient, eager to pay back the second chance that they have been given at life.

Together.

It didn't take much to see how in love they were, as the couples danced and held hands like teenagers at a luncheon last week in honor of the 400 volunteers at St. Francis. They stood out because many of them were drawn back to St. Francis to help others, like themselves, recovering from heart attacks or procedures to prolong their lives.

"We volunteer to give back and because it's good being together," Ann Champouillon, 78, of Farmingville started.

"We get to disagree more often," husband Bill Champouillon finished. They've been married 58 years, having met as teenagers when she spotted him aboard a carousel in Forest Park, Queens. They began volunteering after he had a heart procedure.

Most of the couples have been married more than three decades, according to a quick show of hands. And some have been married almost 60 years.

Take Phil and Jo Calderone of Oakdale. They've been together 56 years. Jo, 84, said she picked Phil, 82, up at Jones Beach one summer.

"He was cute," Jo started.

"And I was attracted to older women," Phil finished.

Phil Calderone started volunteering at St. Francis 14 years ago, after he had surgery there; Jo joined him three years later.

So why are there so many married couples volunteering at St. Francis? "We need to keep an eye on our spouses," Phil deadpanned.

It was almost impossible to speak to one spouse without hearing from the other. They complete each other's sentences.

Ask one a question and what comes back are two voices that, like fine musical instruments, blend, twist and turn around each other to create a single song.

Joe and Mae Romuno, 55 years married, of Bethpage, met in a gasoline station. He pretended to wash cars so she could get a good look at him.

"I was scrubbing with no water; I had an empty bucket," Joe, 76, started.

"He liked my long, red hair," Mae, 75, finished.

And so it went with the couples, outside in the bright warm sun, until they walked back inside and, for some, to the dance floor.

What makes marriages so strong for so long? Marriages that keep so many partners together and volunteering in the same place?

"Patience," Mae said, with a strong, sure nod.

She ought to know. Mae's seen Joe through six heart attacks, two open heart surgeries and, she said, "12 or 13" other heart-related procedures.

"Patience, and make sure to kiss each other every night before you go to bed," Mae started.

"Especially if you're mad," Joe finished.

And then they smiled.

Together.