True friendship stands the test of time — and sometimes even sets a world record.
Pat DeReamer and Mary Wheaton-Kroger, lifelong best friends from Louisville, Kentucky, have captured hearts around the world after exchanging the same birthday card back and forth for an astonishing 81 years. Their incredible tradition recently earned them a Guinness World Record for the “Longest Greeting Card Exchange.”
What began in 1944 with a simple puppy-adorned birthday card has grown into a living testimony of enduring friendship and love. “We never said, ‘We’re going to do this.’ At least, I don’t remember ever saying that. It just happened,” DeReamer, who just turned 95, shared with WKLY.
Each year, the two friends sign and date the card, filling it with memories and the marks of passing time. The card itself, worn but treasured, features a cheerful cartoon dog with fuzzy ears and a playful greeting inside: “Here’s wishing you a birthday that really is colossal. Cause it’ll be a long, long time before YOU’RE an old fossil!” Over the decades, the once-soft embellishments have flattened, but the love behind the tradition has only deepened.
Their friendship took root during World War II when DeReamer moved to Indianapolis. Feeling out of place, she was welcomed by Wheaton-Kroger, who showed her kindness and hospitality. “Mary kind of picked me up out of the gutter and was nice to me. We became really good friends,” DeReamer recalled. That first act of kindness blossomed into a lifelong bond.
Through moves, marriages, children, and life’s many changes, the two women have stayed committed not only to their friendship but also to their unique tradition. “Once a year, mom would be taking out this old card and seeing to it that it got in the mail in a timely manner,” said Don Kroger, Wheaton-Kroger’s son. “That was kind of intriguing … and then as time went on it became increasingly special.”
When asked about the secret to their lasting bond, DeReamer offered a simple but profound answer rooted in faith: “The secret to everything in life is love — showing and sharing love in any way you can, whether it’s just a hug or stopping somebody with a smile,” she said. Her words reflect a deeper Christian truth — that small acts of love reflect God’s heart to the world around us.
DeReamer also emphasized the importance of sharing that love even with strangers. “There are people that you run into every day that you feel close to, and I think giving a hug when you leave is very special.”
As both women approach their 95th birthdays, they show no signs of slowing down — or putting down the card. “Neither one of us have any intention of passing before we’re 100 because we’ve got to get the card going over a hundred,” DeReamer said with a smile.
Their beautiful story is a reminder that lasting friendships, built on kindness, loyalty, and love, are one of God’s greatest gifts — and sometimes, they even come with a Guinness World Record.