Viola Holt’s funeral was very intimate. There were not ten people present, as previously stated, but only six. Why is that? “That’s what she wanted. She decided that a long time ago.”
Viola Holt was a celebrity in the Dutch TV world. She has enjoyed TV fame for much of her life, but in recent years she has hardly been in front of the camera. Yet there was obviously a lot of media attention for her death. Many people wanted to say goodbye to her, but her funeral was very intimate.
Six people
In fact, Viola had already prepared everything, her widower Peter explains The Telegraph. “She had described in detail how she wanted her funeral. How small it had to be and who was allowed to attend. Through my work, I also drive funerals, I was able to arrange a brand new Cadillac XT5.”
He continues: “Viola was in the coffin, in a white dress and her white fur coat. It was beautiful. But six people were there at ten o’clock on Tuesday morning.”
Why?
Why were there only six people at Viola’s funeral? “That’s what she wanted. She decided that a long time ago. We never really had many people around us. In the 37 years that we were together, of which 35 years were married, we were always enough for each other,” says Peter.
“We did everything together and didn’t need anyone. On evenings when I was free, we sometimes went out for dinner. At Moeke’s, at the Spandershoeve, at De Zeemeeuw. She never wanted people over, especially not unannounced.”
Freek de Jonge
Viola didn’t have many celebrity friends. “The one who sometimes walked in, when he was out for a walk, is Freek de Jonge. He lives nearby, she got along well with him. But she also had very few contacts from her long TV career.”
“Tineke de Nooij is the exception, she is an incredible sweetheart. I spoke to her extensively this week and I had to come over to her quickly for a cuddle.”
33.5 degrees
Did Peter know that things weren’t going well for Viola? “The Sunday before we went out for dinner in Naarden, a delicious Indian meal. She suddenly didn’t feel well. Once home she also lay down on the couch. The thermometer showed 33.5 degrees, her heart rate was only 43. I covered her with blankets and a little later she was fine again.”
“Her heart rate had gone to sixty, the temperature to 36. On Tuesday she was completely Viola again. On Wednesday she had lunch with a friend and on Thursday, her last, she had a very nice day, which I understand. She must not have noticed much of her death,” concludes Peter, who found Viola lifeless on the couch after a long working day.