Terminally Ill Woman Will Fulfill Her Bucket List Wish And Marry Her Dog For Charity

In the summer of 2017, Lilly Smartelli, 55 years old nurse from Michigan was diagnosed with a pulmonary diffusion defect that has likely left her with a year or two to live. Smartelli realized there was one thing she wanted: "a big Italian wedding." Now she is going to fulfiled that dream with her rescue dog, Bernie, with one aim in mind- collecting donations for animal rescues. Via: People Pets

01
When a doctor told Lilly Smartelli lung disease would cut her life short, she realized she may never have the big Italian wedding she always dreamed about.

via The Five dollar dog wedding

While she traveled, worked as a nurse, and even donated a kidney to a friend, she never found the man of her dreams.
Advertisement
02
Then, she realized the man of her dreams wasn't actually a man at all! Her faithful companion, Bernie the resuce dog, was the only guy she knew she could always count on and who loved her unconditionally.

via thefivedollardogwedding

She started dreaming up fanciful wedding scenarios where Bernie stood in for the groom.
03
Her imaginative wedding visions inspired The $5 Dog Wedding project

via The five dollar dog wedding

This heartwarming book is about life, love, and true friendship. While the book wedding stories are imaginary, Lilly hopes Bernie will stand in as the groom in a real wedding celebration soon!
04
The animal lover first met her groom in October 2011 at a pet adoption event and was entranced by his eyes that were “so deep and philosophical looking.”

via The five dollar dog wedding

"I wasn't supposed to get a dog, but there was something about him that said, 'Please help me!' "
Advertisement
05
While Smartelli would like to have this wedding for herself, its main purpose would be to benefit others — specifically organ donors and animal rescue founders.

via The Five dollar dog wedding

For a weekly dose of animal-themed community challenges - Subscribe to our Newsletter!

Can't get enough of ICanHasCheezburger? Find us on Instagram!

Also From I Can Has Cheezburger?

Trending Now

24-year-old who was catsitting little sister's unspayed $2,500 Maine Coon for a week suddenly refuses to return the cat to her sister who's had her for 10 years, claiming the feline was malnourished: 'My dad said should get cops involved'

25 of the Funniest and Freshest Feline Tweets to Fill Your Week With Pawsitivity (April 27, 2025)

'[For] more than a year, I slept outside with her every night': Kind man saves a lion cub who was abandoned by her mother, hand-raises her himself for 10 years and creates an unbreakable bond with her

Woman rescues the tiniest kitten off of the streets, after noticing he isn't growing she discovers he's a dwarf cat, goes viral: 'He's gonna be a tiny cat furever!'

Woman adopts a meowjestic black cat that was being given away for "free" because she didn't like kids, the next day, she gets told the kids miss the cat and want it back, but no one shows up to take her

UPDATE: Hooman instantly bonds with a loving cat they find in the street, then, after finding ‘Lost Pet’ signs in their neighborhood, reluctantly return him to the original owner: ‘A happy ending to the story!’

Terminally Ill Woman Will Fulfill Her Bucket List Wish And Marry Her Dog For Charity

When a doctor told Lilly Smartelli lung disease would cut her life short, she realized she may never have the big Italian wedding she always dreamed about.

Then, she realized the man of her dreams wasn't actually a man at all! Her faithful companion, Bernie the resuce dog, was the only guy she knew she could always count on and who loved her unconditionally.

Her imaginative wedding visions inspired The $5 Dog Wedding project

The animal lover first met her groom in October 2011 at a pet adoption event and was entranced by his eyes that were “so deep and philosophical looking.”

While Smartelli would like to have this wedding for herself, its main purpose would be to benefit others — specifically organ donors and animal rescue founders.

Tags