Madeline Keeney & Patrick Gentile

Patrick and I (Madeline) have been going to school together since elementary school. We became close friends in eighth grade when he was in my reading class and we had to work together for a group project. In high school, we had more classes together and our friendship continued to grow. Patrick later asked me to homecoming in the fall, and we became “official.” We were the traditional high school sweethearts, as he played football and I was on dance team. We were fortunate enough to go to the same university, where our relationship continued to blossom into something greater than I could have ever imagined. Just about every one of my favorite memories includes him in some way.

A few weeks prior to our family vacation with all the Gentiles to Canada, Patrick and I went ring shopping at Diamonds Direct. It didn’t seem like a coincidence that he bought a ring right before the trip. On the day we left, he was wearing hiking pants, which he never wears and that is not his style. I assumed it was just his travel outfit, but now I know that it was to hold my ring safely while traveling to Canada. The first night in Quebec City we had gone to dinner with his family and afterwards everyone went their separate ways walking around outside the hotel. About 500 stairs later, we were at the top of the park next to our hotel overlooking the St. Lawrence River and he asked me to marry him.