This holiday season marks a new chapter for The Golden Bachelorette stars Joan Vassos and Chock Chapple, who are celebrating their first Christmas as an engaged couple. While the season is filled with love and excitement, it’s also a poignant reminder of their pasts. Both Joan and Chock have experienced profound loss, having each lost long-term partners to cancer. Now, as they create new traditions together, the weight of old memories inevitably surfaces, adding complexity to their celebration.
Navigating the Past During the Holidays
The holidays are often a time for reflection, and for Joan, the season brings back memories of her late husband, John Vassos, who passed away four years ago. At Thanksgiving, Joan shared on TikTok that she felt her “worlds were colliding,” as she spent time with Chock and his children while privately mourning her late husband on his birthday, November 27. She visited John’s grave and admitted needing time alone to process her emotions.
Similarly, Chock carries the memory of his late fiancée, Kathy Goree, who was by his side for nearly a decade. For both Joan and Chock, Christmases past were spent with their former partners, making this first holiday together both special and bittersweet.
Grief doesn’t simply vanish with new love. It ebbs and flows, sometimes catching you off guard. The holidays, steeped in tradition and togetherness, have a way of intensifying these feelings. While Joan and Chock are focused on building a future together, they also face the challenge of navigating their individual losses during this emotionally charged time.
Thanksgiving Challenges and Red Flags
Thanksgiving offered a glimpse into how Joan and Chock are adjusting to their new normal. Joan appreciated how Chock and his children adapted their traditions to include her, but she also hinted at the emotional weight of blending their lives. Balancing her new relationship with the memories of her late husband has proven to be a delicate dance, with moments of joy and sorrow intertwined.
On social media, Joan has been open about her struggles, sharing her need for solitude amid the festivities. These honest moments reflect her emotional depth but also highlight the challenges she and Chock face as they merge their lives. Even small, everyday moments, like cooking together, reveal the growing pains of a new relationship. In a recent video, Joan playfully criticized Chock’s kitchen technique, which elicited a slightly irritated but good-natured response from him—proof that they are still learning to navigate each other’s quirks.
A Love Worth Rooting For
Despite the hurdles, Joan and Chock appear to have the resilience and maturity needed to build a lasting relationship. Their shared experiences with grief may make them uniquely suited to understanding and supporting each other through tough moments. As they celebrate this Christmas together, it’s an opportunity to create new memories while honoring the lives they’ve lived before.
The couple has kept things quiet on social media in the lead-up to Christmas, leaving fans to wonder whether their holiday is filled with joy, nostalgia, or a mix of both. Whatever emotions the season stirs, Joan and Chock seem committed to leaning into their “new normal.” If they can navigate the complexities of blending their pasts with their present, they may very well beat the odds and become a forever match.
For Joan and Chock, the holidays are a reminder that love is a journey. While grief may never fully fade, the possibility of healing and happiness shines brightly this season—making their story one to watch and celebrate.
