It was Holyoke City Clerk Brenna Murphy McGee and Mayor Alex B. Morse to the rescue.
HOLYOKE -- One of the happiest moments of her life was unfolding in a few days but Marilyn Rosado found herself crying and unable to breathe.
No, she told her fiancee Jose L. Vazquez on Wednesday, she had not remembered to obtain the marriage license necessary for them to wed Saturday.
Quick online checks showed City Hall was closed on Thursday, obviously, for the Thanksgiving holiday.
It also was closed on Friday. And the weekend. Not scheduled to reopen until Monday.
Too late.
The story has a happy ending. The couple was put in touch with Mayor Alex B. Morse, who contacted City Clerk Brenna Murphy McGee, the two officials trekking to their offices on a day off Friday to open City Hall and ensure Rosado and Vazquez received the license to marry.
But Rosado, 29, will never forget feeling crushed on Wednesday.
"It was the day before Thanksgiving. My boyfriend was asking me if I got everything and he was naming some things and he said, 'Did you get the marriage license?' That's when I gasped for air and I started crying," Rosado said in a phone interview.
"I was just in total distress and crying, not knowing what to do."
She called her sister Veronica. Veronica recalled that Vazquez' uncle, Jose Luis Guitirrez, knew Morse. Guitirrez put them in touch with Morse late Wednesday and the mayor and clerk arranged for City Hall to be opened.
"The mayor worked his magic, called the city clerk," Rosado said.
"I was out of breath and I just broke down crying....I was telling the uncle I was so grateful for such a wonderful mayor and for city officials to take the time out to help us get a marriage certificate," she said.
Morse and Murphy McGee said they were happy to help.
Morse:
"As public servants, we are here to serve the people, and sometimes we have to go above and beyond to provide that service. It was a small gesture on our part that makes a huge difference in the lives of Jose, Marilyn and their family. These types of events remind me why I entered public service to begin with, and that is to help people and to answer the call when people are in need. I'm happy to put a smile on their face this holiday season."
Murphy McGee said the couple had fulfilled the initial state requirement by coming to her office previously and completing forms outlining their intention to marry. Getting that done last week met the requirement of abiding by a mandatory three-day waiting period, she said.
They paid the $25 fee for the marriage license, needed to certify the marriage in the eyes of the law, she said.
Murphy McGee:
"When I ran for city clerk one the things I pledged to do was always be accessible to the public, whether it was during the working day or nights and weekends. I have had to go in to City Hall a few times now after hours to help folks out. Being able to help this couple the day after Thanksgiving during one of the most important times of their lives reminded me of how grateful I am to hold this very important position."
Murphy McGee added, "They were very sweet and grateful."
Rosado said she and Vazquez met in 2000 and began dating a year later. They have a daughter Naiana S. Vazquez, 8, and a son Ismael L. Vazquez, 1, Rosado said.
Rosado works as a personal care assistant for her grandmother. Vazquez, 30, is an assistant truck driver with Conklin Office Furniture here, she said.
They are to be wed at 1:30 p.m. at Stanley Park in Westfield in a small ceremony, she said.