Heartbreak over loss of dad, mum and sister
Sister talks after devastating loss of parents and sister due to Covid-19.
Two sisters and their family were left devastated after the heart-breaking loss of Danie (58), Marietjie (55) and Mariska (31) du Preez.
Deidré Ras spoke to Rekord this week, about her parents and sister’s death due to Covid-19.
An emotional Ras said the loss of her youngest sister and the beloved high school teacher Mariska, on Wednesday was unexpected.
“She was still so young,” she said in a broken voice.
“Everyone loved her and she was very involved in the community and at school.”
Ras said her parents and sister battled with the virus for a long time.
The three were in hospital for almost a month.
Danie sadly lost his battle against Covid-19 first on July 12, and 12 days later, the girls lost their mum Marietjie.
“My mum, dad and sister were very involved in their community and church – they were well-known and so loved by all who knew them,” said Ras.
Ras said she held on to the comforting thought that “at least my parents and sister are together again”.
“Mariska stayed with my folks and they did everything together. It’s a small consolation that they were together again.”
Ras and her other surviving sister Cariké Holtzhausen received a flood of messages with condolences and prayers for their families.
She said a date would still be determined for a memorial service for all three of their loved ones.
On Thursday, Hoërskool Eldoraigne, where Mariska worked said the following on their Facebook page: “She was a fresh breeze that moved through our school during the short time she had been borrowed to us.
“With her bubbling enthusiasm, sparkling personality and commitment, she crept deep into our hearts.”
Mariska’s classroom was covered with letters and flowers from the learners she taught.
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