Thérèse Boer, in an interview with the AD, has for the first time reflected on the death of her husband, Jonnie Boer. The top chef of the Michelin-starred restaurant De Librije suddenly passed away in April due to a pulmonary embolism. “Suddenly, Jonnie became very short of breath.”
In the days before his death, Jonnie reportedly wasn’t feeling well. He didn’t feel like himself and was short of breath, Thérèse recounts. But the duo wasn’t alarmed by it.
When the star chef again felt unwell on Tuesday, April 22, they eventually visited the doctor. The doctor referred the family to the hospital, where tests were done. Doctors didn’t find anything unusual.
Yet, Jonnie became more and more short of breath. “I didn’t have my inhaler,” he said about it. For a moment, it seemed to get better, but ultimately, those turned out to be his last words. On Wednesday, April 23, the hospitality entrepreneur passed away due to a pulmonary embolism and cardiac arrest.
Thérèse says in the interview with the newspaper that she is doing better and better. She is back working at De Librije and hasn’t considered stopping for a moment. “Jonnie wouldn’t want that.”
‘In the first days, you think: it’s not true’
At home, she doesn’t dare to do everything yet. She doesn’t dare to use a bench and the jacuzzi at home because those were ‘their’ spots. “It will never get used to. In the first days, you have something like: it’s not true. You don’t believe it. But then you see him lying in the coffin, and you know: goddamn, it’s really true.”
She is grateful for the support she received after Jonnie’s death. Two thousand people came to the farewell moment in De Librije.
Her own house naturally feels emptier. “You know: there will come a moment when you are alone. But I can’t expect my children, friends, or staff to be with me every minute of the day. Of course, you are allowed to be sad. But you also have to move on.”
