‘It Had to Be You’ — Residents at The Bridge at Cherry Hill Become Engaged

Love is in the air at The Bridge at Cherry Hill!

Meet Vincent DiMonte and Gertrude St. Pierre — two residents who became engaged to each other!

Vincent and Gertrude’s love story began in May 2025 when Gertrude was moved to Vincent’s table in the dining room, due to often arriving late to breakfast and her previous seat being taken.

From that day on, the two became inseparable but just remained friends.

“I moved to The Bridge at Cherry Hill because I was living by myself and wanted to make girlfriends,” said Gertrude. “I wasn’t looking for a boyfriend!”

However, Gertrude quickly caught Vincent’s attention — not as a friend, but as a love interest.

“I was so drawn to her vivaciousness and care toward others,” said Vincent.

The couple’s backgrounds could not seem more different. Vincent is 75 years old, never married, and held a career as an attorney in Rhode Island for nearly 50 years. On the other hand, Gertrude is 90, married twice, and is a mother to two sons.

However, there is one thing that drew the couple together more than anything else: their faith.

“His love for God is what truly captivated me,” said Gertrude. “I’ve never experienced being with such a godly man before.”

So, after a few months of a budding romance, Vincent and Gertrude’s relationship blossomed when they became engaged in August 2025. Vincent proposed to Gertrude at The Bridge at Cherry Hill, giving his own rings to her and recruiting a fellow resident to take pictures of them.

Like all relationships, however, Vincent and Gertrude’s hasn’t been perfect.

As seen in many rom-com movies, the Cherry Hill couple experienced a classic case of miscommunication, resulting in them calling off their engagement later that month.

Despite this, they remained good friends and continued sharing meals and doing activities together, such as bingo, virtual bowling, and attending Mass. Gertrude would even tease Vincent during this time, saying things like, “When am I getting my rings back?”

By January 2026, the pair had been able to resolve their misunderstandings and felt optimistic about resuming a romantic relationship. This is when Vincent decided to pull out all the stops.

Over a candlelit dinner at a gourmet Italian restaurant in Johnston, Rhode Island, Vincent proposed to Gertrude for the second time, and she excitedly accepted.

“God brought us back together,” said Vincent. “He works in mysterious ways.”

While there is currently no date set, the couple plans to have their wedding at The Bridge at Cherry Hill. Vincent is already a beloved figure to Gertrude’s family, so there’s no question that he has their blessing.

Lately, the lovebirds can be found singing karaoke together, a hobby born out of their renewed romance. They’ve taken on the band name “The Singing Fiancés” and recently performed Frank Sinatra’s “It Had to Be You,” a song about destined love and choosing to be with one irreplaceable person.