I have often heard people say how it feels like the only time they see some of their family members is at weddings and funerals. The message implied is usually along the lines of ‘we really ought to get together more often.’

But weddings do offer at great opportunity for family to gather and share in a usually, most happy event. Such was the case on Thursday, October 15, 1942 when the Latimer family members got together to share in the wedding celebration of Olive Theresa Evelyn ‘Tess’ Latimer.

On that Thursday, 24-year old Tess married 24-year old Carl Francis Wagner. Tess was a nurse in Orillia, Ontario and Carl was a Canadian army sergeant from Saskatchewan assigned to Camp Borden, not too far south of Orillia, when they met.

The photo below is one of a few ‘snapshots’ taken by an unidentified family member on Carl and Tess’ wedding day.

This photo shows Carl (far right) with Tess’ immediate Latimer family. On the far left is Tess’ father Edward Arthur Latimer, standing between Edward and Tess is Tess’ sister and maid of honour Hazel (Latimer) Filkin. Standing behind Tess are her eldest sister Albertine ‘Abbie’ (Latimer) Ensom and her brother Edward ‘Knox’ Latimer. The two girls standing in front of Tess are her nieces Pat and Jule Filkin, the only two that seemed to be able to muster smiles for the photo.

Pat and Jule Filkin with (middle row l. to r.) Edward Arthur Latimer, Hazel (Latimer) Filkin, Tess (Latimer) Wagner, Carl Francis Wagner, and (back row l. to r.) Albertine ‘Abbie’ (Latimer) Ensom and Edward ‘Knox’ Latimer on October 15, 1942