Separated by War for 70 Years, Childhood Sweethearts Reunite on Facebook and Marry

They say your first love stays with you forever—and the incredible reunion of 89-year-old Giovanni Molinari and 86-year-old Antonia Gottifredi proves it's totally true.

It took them seven decades to cross paths again back in their Italian homeland. Long ago, World War II tore the childhood sweethearts apart when Giovanni was captured on the front lines. By the time he managed to make it back, Antonia had already married and started a family with two kids, leaving Giovanni to eventually move on and build a life with someone else.

Fast forward to last year: following the loss of his wife, a widowed Giovanni decided he wanted some companionship for his golden years. Like countless others, the spry octogenarian hopped onto Facebook to see who was out there—only to stumble across his teenage sweetheart. As it turned out, she was also a widow and had joined the platform looking for a fresh start.

"He showered me in roses"

After a 70-year intermission, their romance picked up right where it left off. Antonia beams that Giovanni hasn't lost an ounce of his old charm, treating her to a candlelit dinner and drowning her in roses. Surrounded by a tight-knit circle of close friends, the pair finally exchanged their long-awaited vows.