The phrase “Best friends forever” is cute but a bit cliche. The chances of us staying best friends with someone for life isn’t unheard of, but it’s definitely not guaranteed nor something that can be forced. Many of us fall out with our best friends decades sooner than we anticipate. Lives get busy. Other times, a nasty feud breaks close pals apart, sometimes for good.
Olive Woodward and Kathleen Saville, however, are the true definition of BFFs. These two ladies met in 1941 when they were just 11-years-old. You’d think middle school drama would have driven them apart. Or, maybe they’d naturally grow apart in high school or even turn their separate ways after getting married, but no! Their friendship couldn’t be stronger. 78 years later, the best friends moved into the same senior care facility together, and their adorable story is breaking the Internet.
Olive and Kathleen’s friendship all started when they were sitting next to each other at Ravenshead Primary School in Nottingham, UK. It turns out, their houses were also right across the street from one another! Sounds like they were destined to be friends, doesn’t it?
If that isn’t crazy enough, the sisters from another mister had more odd similarities, or life synchronicities, if you will. Both of their husbands worked at a company called Coal Board. Thus, over the decades, Kathleen and Olive always lived within close proximity to one another. Life has a funny way of setting two people up together for life, doesn’t it?
But then in 1989, Kathleen’s husband of 35 years passed away. Kathleen remained good friends with Olive. However, she chose to continue living alone. Meanwhile, Olive remained living in the same household with her husband and their two daughters until her husband eventually passed away in 2004.
In the past year, Kathleen decided to move into Berry Hill Park, a senior care home in Mansfield. Her best friend heard of the news and decided to join her as she, too, was living alone. What better way to spend your golden years than in the company of your closest friend?
According to the women who hold a strong, nearly 80-year-long friendship, their secret to being best friends for life is refraining from arguing with one another. Sounds simple, right? It is for these two besties, at least!
Not only are Katheleen and Olive living happily within the same home, but they are also the oldest residents of their senior care facility.
“We sometimes have to knock the staff into shape. I just raced one of the managers down the hallway for a laugh. I’m so glad Olive is here now, we’re like giggling schoolgirls and we still put on our lippy and get dressed up. We always say to each other ‘if you’ve got it, flaunt it,’” says Kathleen.
Learn more about the adorable story by watching the video below!
