I first met Fritz when he was a patient at Helderberg Hospice. A distinguished gentleman, he was a kind-hearted individual and a devoted husband.
Originally from Switzerland, a diligent and hard-working man with a sharp intellect, Fritz came to South Africa in his late teens, where he immediately fell in love with the beauty of Cape Town.
This is where he met and married Yvette, a beautiful South African woman whom he adored. Together, they lived in a mountainside home that offered breathtaking views of the ocean. Over the years they adopted several rescue dogs, primarily Jack Russells, who became their cherished companions and children.
Despite being a private and reserved man, Fritz was known for his delightful sense of humour. Typically Swiss, he held a strong appreciation for precision, quality and excellence in all aspects of life.
His commitment to fitness was evident in the numerous medals he earned through activities such as hiking, walking and running.
One of Fritz’s greatest passions was his hobby of dismantling and rebuilding mechanical devices. He dedicated these skills to maintaining his numerous vehicles and household appliances. His home workshop was a veritable treasure trove, filled with shelves of spare parts and tools as well as a collection of unfinished projects and technical drawings, all reflecting his meticulous nature and inventive spirit.
Fritz approached his life-threatening illness with the same meticulous planning that characterised his approach to life. His primary objective was to ensure Yvette would be well cared for in his absence and, through our Social Services Department, Helderberg Hospice facilitated trusted, reliable legal advice, and support as part of our service offering.
Yvette, who took great pride in her appearance and maintained an active lifestyle at the gym, had a tough exterior that concealed a compassionate heart for the homeless, the needy and, above all, animals.
While a patient at our home and community-based programme Fritz developed a strong relationship with home care professional nurse Sister Angelique Botha who, during her regular visits to assess his health, provided experienced and compassionate palliative care in accordance with his unique care plan.
Working within our inter-disciplinary team (IDT), made up of palliative care specialists who meet weekly, Sister Angie’s role included assessing and identifying patient and family needs and, through the IDT members, coordinating the professional care that Fritz needed.
He first demonstrated his support for Helderberg Hospice by becoming a Change Maker, where his monthly contribution of R50 gave him a chance of winning big in our monthly draw. His most valuable gift, however, was the legacy he left in his last will and testament.
Fritz was admitted to our In-Patient Support Centre on two separate occasions, where he received more acute palliative care, dealing particularly with pain and symptom management. On the odd occasion Yvette would stay overnight with him, both of them appreciating the comfort, convenience and tranquillity of our family room, which overlooks an extensive garden.
Fritz passed away peacefully at home, having ensured that Yvette would be well looked after until her own passing some months later. During this time, Helderberg Hospice remained very involved with assisting Yvette in whatever manner she needed, including bereavement support from our social workers, trusted legal advice and support, and later, when her health deteriorated and she became a patient on our home-care programme, hospice offered the support of a nurse, companion and carer.
The contents of their home were generously bequeathed to us and the sale of these good-quality items through our retail shops raised much-needed income, which helps fund the special services we provide.
Helderberg Hospice is approved by the South African Revenue Service as a public benefit organisation in terms of Section 30 of the Income Tax Act. As a result, any bequests made to Helderberg Hospice are exempt from Estate Duty in terms of Section 4(h) of the Estate Duty Act No. 45 of 1955. This means that the value of such bequests may be deducted from the net estate when calculating estate duty liability.
Leaving a legacy gift in the form of a bequest to a charity offers you the opportunity to have an impact on generations to come by keeping your ideals, your compassion, and your vision alive, and in doing so, to preserve your name or that of a loved one. Legacy giving provides Helderberg Hospice with funds needed to care for patients in their final illness, ensuring practical help, relief from pain, emotional support and spiritual comfort at a time when it is needed most.
A memorial was established in honour of Fritz and Yvette in our Garden of Remembrance, which includes a photo of their beloved dogs who have since taken up residence with a family on a small holding.
You must be logged in to post a comment.