AceShowbiz -

Patrick Swayze's widow Lisa Niemi is ready to start a new marriage life. The actress and dancer who was married to the actor for 34 years and stood by his side during his battle with pancreatic cancer for years, is engaged to a jeweler.

Niemi found love in 58-year-old Albert DePrisco and got a marriage proposal from him on Christmas Eve, a representative told People. They met during her birthday party through mutual friends and have been dating for a year and a half. She confirmed the relationship in 2012, three years after Swayze died.

A source told Globe, "Lisa's totally smitten with Al. They've been crossing the country for months to spend as much time together as they can. When they first started dating, Al flew to California all the time - he could hardly tear himself away from her." The source added, "And now that the relationship has gotten serious, she's been flying her own plane from California to South Florida, close to Al's home. They seem made for each other. We're expecting her to have a ring on her finger by the first of the year."

Niemi herself told People a year after Swayze died that she was ready to open her heart again. "I would love companionship love. Absolutely. I hope I'm not one of these women who never want to have another relationship," she said. "But who knows, that's another bridge I'll cross when I come to it. I may get there and go, I don't know. But I like to think that I can."