Marriage cut short after six days, husband loses cancer battle
Six days after Ronel Bloem married her terminally ill partner, he died.
Sitting in a wheelchair in the Hospice East Rand garden, Jan watched his partner of 10 years walk down the garden path in her white wedding dress.
The hospice nursing staff broke out in song, singing “Here Comes the Bride”, in the presence of the bride and groom’s family and friends.
In addition, an elderly hospice patient, who has also been diagnosed with cancer, was privileged enough to be wheeled to the ceremony.
Shortly after the wedding, Jan had to be taken back into his room as he was too weak to remain upright in his wheelchair.
Less than a week after the newly-wed’s big day, Jan died at the couple’s Boksburg home, after a year-long battle with throat cancer.
He was diagnosed with the cancer in August, last year, and underwent an operation to remove the cancer for the first time in December, and then again in January.
He was given chemotherapy in March.
Hospice East Rand public relations and fund-raising manager Gerda Baverstock was shocked when she heard of Jan’s death.
She said the wedding was a first at the Hospice East Rand premises, which added to the special moment.
“Everyone was thrilled, it was such a huge occasion because we deal mostly with sad things,” said Baverstock.
“This was such a happy event.
“We are used to comforting people and here we were standing with tears in our eyes.
“It was a contrast; we were congratulating people rather than given them condolences.
“It was sad because we knew it would not last forever, but none of us expected that it would be over so quickly.”
Ronel believes her husband’s last wish was to marry her, although they never before had the desire to marry.
Six months ago, they started speaking of the prospect of a wedding.
Then, two days before they said their vows, (with the wedding conducted by Andre Kloppers from the NG Kerk, Forest Hill) they informed nursing staff at the hospice of their plans.
Ronel said her “wonderful” and “helpful” husband attracted her attention the moment she laid eyes on him in an Alberton restaurant, 10 years ago.
She told the City Times she misses her soul mate dearly.
Jan’s funeral will be held on September 1, at the Nigel NG Kerk.
