‘Golden Bachelorette' Star Joan Vassos Says Her Late Husband John ‘Would Be Proud of' Her
Days before Joan Vassos' late husband, John, died of pancreatic cancer in 2021, he shared one of his last wishes with his wife of 32 years: "He said, 'You need to go out and live. You need to find somebody else. We had a happy marriage. You're a great wife, and I want you to find happiness again,'" she tells Life & Style exclusively.
The Golden Bachelorette - who got engaged to 61-year-old Chock Chapple during the November season finale of the show - is doing exactly that. She and Chock have been busy traveling (they attended the finale of Season 29 of The Bachelor in Punta Cana, Dominican Republic, in late March) and planning their upcoming wedding.
The retired grandmother of four, who's based in Maryland, also serves as the ambassador of PanCAN PurpleStride, raising awareness and funds for pancreatic cancer. "John would be proud of me that I'm using my platform to do some good," she says. Here, Joan talks to Life & Style's Fortune Benatar about missing John and a potential TV wedding.
What would John think about where you are today?JV: He'd be happy I'm living life. I don't think he'd want me to mourn him for my whole life. There are days I think [about how] I'll never have my old life back, and that still makes me sad, but I know I need to move on. I had 32 wonderful years with John and I could have 32 more years with somebody else.
How's it going with Chock?JV: We're having a blast. We're in love and now we're out [of the Bachelor bubble] being real people going out to dinner with other couples and meeting each other's friends and spending time with each other's family.
How's the long distance thing going? JV: He still has a job [in Kansas], and I'm busy with PurpleStride, the American Heart Association and my grand- kids. Life can get in the way, so you have to be really organized and make sure you set that time apart, which we are really good about. We have our next two months already planned. We talk like five times a day. I think we'll end up here in Maryland because I have kids and grandkids here.
Do you think you'll have a televised wedding? JV: Originally I said, "We just spent all this time on film, let's just do an intimate little wedding." But as I've talked to people about the hope they felt after our show, it feels like we'd be leaving them at the doorstep and not inviting them to the final part of our journey. People are invested in us, so I feel like maybe we would if they ask us to do that.
Any advice for older singles? JV: Do stuff that scares you. It's scarier to do that as you get older be- cause you have more to lose. Going on the show was scary for me. I was worried I was not honoring John's memory. I did something that made me extremely nervous, and it ended up having a great outcome.
You look amazing at 62. What's your secret? JV: I go on walks with my friends, so I'm staying healthy but doing it in a fun way. It's about the connection. Being happy helps a lot!
Copyright 2025 A360 Media. All rights reserved.
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Yahoo
10 hours ago
- Yahoo
Blake Shelton and Gwen Stefani Looking Forward to ‘Nourishing' Summer on Their Oklahoma Ranch
Blake Shelton and Gwen Stefani have been enjoying couples dates on their ranch in Oklahoma and a source exclusively tells Life & Style that they're planning on spending the bulk of summer in the country star's home state – while using it as an opportunity to reconnect and enjoy quality time without the kids. 'They love to get away from L.A. and all the superficiality of the business. On the ranch they can totally relax and let down their guards. Their family and friends fly out to see them so it's not like they are totally shut off, but they do have a lot more time alone," the insider says about Gwen, 55, and Blake, 48. "They go on long walks, write songs and play music together. Gwen cooks all their favorite foods, it's very nourishing," the source shares about the couple. "Right now, they go whenever they have downtime, but it's usually just a few days. They are looking forward to having a good couple of months there soon, where they can really recharge," the insider reveals. Gwen's three sons Kingston,19, Zuma, 16, and Apollo, 11, — whom she shares with ex-husband Gavin Rossdale — will be spending more time in Oklahoma as well. Blake introduced the boys to the ranch early on in the couple's relationship, and they've become big fans of fishing and ATV riding on the vast property. "The boys will come with them, and they'll fly their friends out too. They have tons of space and have a more the merrier vibe at the farm," the source says. "Gwen and Blake both love hosting, they're a great match in that way. They will throw their annual July 4th party, that's being planned right now, they're excited," the insider adds. In addition to the holiday, the couple will be celebrating their fourth wedding anniversary on July 3. Blake had a chapel built on his 1,300-acre ranch in Tishomingo, Oklahoma, for the nuptials, as they tied the knot on the property in 2021. The duo began dating in 2015 after working together on The Voice and going through divorces at the same time. Blake and ex-wife Miranda Lambert announced their split in July 2015, while Gwen and Gavin, 59, did the same the following month. Gwen shared a fun memory of her family visiting the "Texas" singer's ranch for the first time during a November 2019 appearance on The Kelly Clarkson Show. "I remember the first time I went to Oklahoma with my family — we are from Anaheim [California], we'd never seen even trees before — so we were like, 'Wow, this is crazy!'" she recalled. "And we're driving and Blake's in his truck, and there's a tree that had been blown down on the road and Blake gets out and he's like, 'All right,' and he gets in the back of the truck — he has a big chain and he pulls it out, he wraps it around the tree, and pulls." "My whole family's like, 'Oh my God! He's a man!'" she gushed, which made Kelly, 43, burst out laughing. It took some time for the Southern California native to adjust to life in the country, where Blake feels the most at home. "I am not really a dirt person, a bug person, I don't like that much humidity," Gwen told People in 2023. "But you sort of get over it all because it's so beautiful [in Oklahoma], and you kind of feel like you're going into this vortex and it's just different here — I guess it's just nature, and God, is all right there."
Eater
10 hours ago
- Eater
The 12 Best Deals This Week (Including Paris Park Chair Dupes)
In the words of someone's dad, it's go time. Summer is here and Father's Day is just one extra-charred bratwurst away (so, a week-ish), which means there are all kinds of unfurling kitchen and food deals from brands designed to soup up the occasion. Granted, they orbit around the ooga-booga markers of 'manliness,' such as flasks and bouquets of meat, but I'm eager for any opportunity to buy a knife sharpener at 30 percent off. Last week, we cleared Goldbelly's shelves of Chicago-style hot dog kits and other summertime treats, scooped up the best heritage cookware brand items from Nordstrom's Half-Yearly sale, and browsed REI's camping kitchen sale. This week, the outdoorsy vibe continues with deals from Yeti on durable, I-dropped-it-on-a-rock-by-the-creek barware sets; aesthetic designer glassware from SSENSE's (always intriguing but right now up to 60 percent off) sale; and coffee-lover gifts from Bespoke Post's Father's Day sale section. Slip into something more comfortable (this leather oven mitt, perchance?) and let's shop. Score 20% off barware sets at Yeti Unsurprisingly, Yeti — the brand beloved for its classic, rugged coolers — makes durable, camping-ready barware sets. You can get up to 20 percent off barware sets for Father's Day, including flasks, shot glasses, and cocktail shakers that are made out of 18/8 stainless steel, making them dishwasher-safe and resistant to corrosion. For taking shots and flasks on the camping trip | Yeti Prices taken at time of publishing. Take lowballs on-the-go | Yeti Prices taken at time of publishing. Aesthetic kitchen items and drinkware are up to 60% off at SSENSE SSENSE, home to apparel and accessories by rising and established designers such as Collina Strada, Rick Owens, and Chopova Lowena, is also the keeper of some incredible designer glassware, cookware, and kitchen items. There's a 60 percent off sale live on the site right now, and the barware section is full of particularly personality-heavy finds, from amorphous hand-blown glasses reminiscent of Alexander Kirkeby (that cost a fraction of the price) to a set of tumblers that nod to vintage uranium glassware. This chic water carafe is 52% off | SSENSE Prices taken at time of publishing. Just in time for summer, this substantial set of tumblers | SSENSE Prices taken at time of publishing. This palette-shaped cutting board is 20% off | SSENSE Prices taken at time of publishing. This set of hand-blown glasses for juice and spiked iced tea | SSENSE Prices taken at time of publishing. Get up to 40% off Father's Day-worthy kitchen items at Bespoke Post Father's Day is June 15 this year, which means we're in prime ordering time for pops. Bespoke Post, the man-things lifestyle store dedicated to all things Ron-Swanson-meets- Kinfolk , has rolled out deals of up to 40 percent off all kinds of great Father's Day gift fodder, including a Zwilling knife sharpener that we're also going to grab for ourselves. A self-heating mug For the coffee-obsessed dad Zwilling's knife sharpener is 30% off Let Amazon's best deals this week bring Paris to you Low and behold, a smorgasbord of sales on Amazon this week that understand that what you really need to be doing this summer: sitting on your patio in Bushwick with a robust charcuterie board at a bistro set that is the perfect budget dupe for the iconic, sage-colored park chairs you'll find around Parisian parks (they're by Fermob, and will otherwise cost you $145 per chair). This charcuterie board bundle is 46% off | Drmvalg Prices taken at time of publishing. These dupes for Parisian park bistro sets | Grand Patio Prices taken at time of publishing. Now go suck down an Aperol spritz. The freshest news from the food world every day
New York Post
11 hours ago
- New York Post
La Grenouille, the epitome of fine French dining, has been transformed into a delicious chain restaurant — but it still looks the same
La Grenouille, widely acknowledged as the city's prettiest restaurant for more than a half-century, closed last fall. But its gorgeous ghost is back at 3 E. 52nd Street, where frogs' legs have given way to Beijing-style duck. The former home of classic French cuisine has surprisingly been reborn as a location of iDen & Quanjude Beijing Duck House — an empire of fowl-focused restaurants that originated in 1864 in the Chinese capital. Remarkably, the new owners have lovingly preserved the timeless look of La Grenouille. 7 The fabled La Grenouille closed last fall after more than five decades. Gabriella Bass 7 The location has been reborn as a location of iDen & Quanjude Beijing Duck House — an empire of fowl-focused restaurants that originated in 1864 in the Chinese capital. Olga Ginzburg for NY Post General manager Wayne Pan explained, 'We had many thoughts about redesigning it like our restaurant in Vancouver' — the Quanjude brand's only other North American location that's elegant in a cool, modern style. (There are about fifty in China.) 'But people suggested not to do that, and to keep most of the old La Grenouille, because it has so many good memories for New Yorkers,' Pan said. The new restaurant's owner, Andy Zhang, also owns the Canadian location, and he bought the chateau-like 1871 former carriage house in Midtown NYC last year for $14.2 million. He and his wife divide their time between NYC and Vancouver and had enjoyed dining at La Grenouille. 'They made a decision to preserve it,' Pan explained. The jewel-box, 80-seat dining room looks almost exactly as it did when its predecessor drew luminaries from Frank Sinatra and Elizabeth Taylor to Blake Lively and Adrien Brody. The room's seductively retro crimson banquettes, gold fabric walls, beveled mirrors, and flattering lighting — from recessed ceiling fixtures and sconces — have all been perfectly preserved like a ship in a bottle. An abundance of fresh flowers in the L-shaped dining room further keep the La Grenouille spirit alive. Only the wall paintings are new, although in the same Belle Epoque style as before. The vibe is still romantic, sexy and hushed, save for classical strains of Haydn, Schumann and Mendelssohn. 7 La Grenouille was famed for its elegant interiors, which included gold-fabric walls, red booths, soft lighting and fresh flowers. Victoria Will 7 The owners of the new restaurant have preserved the iconic interiors. Olga Ginzburg for NY Post The food, however, is a different animal entirely. Instead of Dover sole in Dijon and Hollandaise sauces, Quanjude's menu is built around crispy-skin Beijing duck, which is carved tableside for guests to roll into thin Chinese pancakes with scallions and Hoisin sauce. The bird from Pennsylvania's Jurgielewicz farm was flavor-rich and winningly moist beneath its amber skin. Pan said only the kitchen and second floor needed to be updated. But there's work ahead to bring the service fully up to speed. On my early visit, nervous waiters oddly kneeled while taking orders and first brought us an effervescent mystery beverage when we ordered Sauvignon Blanc — the only white-by-the-glass available from a wine list yet to be written. They're taking a very limited number of reservations 'while we're training the staff,' Pan said. 7 iDen & Quanjude Beijing Duck House is best know for its Beijing duck. Olga Ginzburg for NY Post 7 Allen Ren is the chef at the New York restaurant — and the Michelin-starred Vancouver outpost. Olga Ginzburg for NY Post 7 The duck is delicious, and there are many other fine dishes on the menu. Olga Ginzburg for NY Post The menu is already worth a try. In addition to the $128 'signature' duck that three of us couldn't finish, chef Allen Ren, who's also the toque at the Michelin-starred Quanjude in Vancouver, is turning out other fine dishes such as tangy, Shanghai-styled smoked fish and plum sauce and beef Zha Jiang noodles. The food is as grown-up as the vibe, which mercifully restores decorum to the room after La Grenouille's zany final decade. Owner Philippe Masson turned the place into a part-time cabaret that chased away its boldface buzz. Masson himself crooned 'in a voice that combined the boom of a sportscaster with the swagger of an Elvis impersonator … even growling like a cat,' the New York Times snarked in 2021. All that aside, the good news is that the unabashed glamour of the city's most beautiful place to eat lives on.
