He was her great love. Her first love too. So when Fiona’s husband Mario Wijnen died of lung cancer on 11 October 2020 at the age of 58, the sadness was huge. But something beautiful happened a few years ago. A new love came into her life. Bart. And the good thing is that Mario hoped that it would happen.
Fiona Wijnen-Haasen from Zeilberg (Deurne) was a member of the Youth Society Den Verlataat where she met Mario Wijnen, who led the almost ten-year-older, who led. It was love at first sight, no escaping. “But that age difference was a thing, especially at the time. We turned around each other for a long time, but in 1989 we were hired. We were married in 1995.”
They couldn’t get their luck when their love was awarded the birth of son Luuk (24) and daughter Julia (20). Fiona: “The children were everything. He was a very sweet, caring dad who always found time and made them for them. And that, while we worked hard and were busy with the case we had taken over with my brother of my father and mother. Your own business, you are busy 24 hours a day.”
“He was everywhere and drove them everywhere.”
Whether it was about the parent consultation hour at school, the football matches of Luuk or the horse riding of Julia: Mario was involved. “He was everywhere and drove them everywhere. He enjoyed it. On their birthday in the morning to sing to their bed what we did until his death, the English breakfast on Sunday morning, watching a movie on the couch, camping, sports. He was the one who undertook everything with them and was busy with them.”
Fiona sketches a picture of a beautiful, close and warm family. “We were, we had a great time with each other. That really didn’t happen by us, we hear enough discussions, but we made conscious choices. By focusing on the children and each other in addition to work. We made the most beautiful journeys with the four of us, to Cuba, New Zealand. There are so many beautiful memories and those cherish me.”
You don’t understand where he got the time, but Mario was also very active within the Zeilberg and Deurnese community. Many know him. “He founded the local Omroep Deurne Media Groep, was the leader of Luuk’s football team, was involved with carnival association De Pottenbakkers, which he wax in 2008, made music, CDs, I can continue,” Fiona sums up.
“Mario was really a centipede with a large, social heart. Within the company he did a lot for people who are less likely to go on the labor market. That he could mean something for that group, did him a lot and saw him as a crown on his work. Three weeks before his death, he received a royal award for all his merits, knight in the Order of Order.”
“He was so powerful and never complained or complained.”
When Mario fell ill and was diagnosed with lung cancer at the end of 2019, it was worth what he was worth. “He did everything,” says Fiona. “He thought he could tackle ‘it’. He was so powerful, never grumbled or complained and even four days carnival while he was already sick.”
On that pure willpower, Mario managed to extend the time that left him by a few months. “By exercising chemo, immunotherapy and as much as possible. We have even been on vacation. And during that period, also forced by Corona, spent a lot of time with the four of us. A kind of bad luck and happiness at the same time. We were talking about his death, how he wanted to rule over his grave. Yes, we could do a lot and we did that too.”
“He was not afraid to die, but found it difficult to leave us.”
In the fall of 2020 it went fast, there was no stopping anymore. “He was up and told that he found it difficult to leave us behind, but was not afraid to die. Much too young, yes. A good friend knew how to say goodbye to Mario’s farewell: he only turned 58 but has lived for double. And so I see that. He has planted a lot of seeds and still blooming.”
On October 11, exactly five years after the death of Mario, a benefit concert will be organized with his friends in honor of him. The proceeds go to the KWF. Of course Fiona is there, together with the children and Bart. “Mario has pressed me not to stay alone. He literally not only free me to stay. So I know it is good. And that he absolutely grants me this new love.”
Listen tip: ‘Whether I miss you’
In this personal podcast, Thijs investigates why the death of his father hardly touched him for years. He speaks with family, friends and former colleagues to find out who his father really was. With that he not only gets to know his father, but also better. Whether I go wrong about mourning, memory and shaping your own story. To be heard at Omroep Brabant and in your favorite PodcastApp.
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