Thursday, April 25, 2024
Goodbye to brother Hugo
Seven brothers and sisters
born between 1943 and 1954,
until now doing well, all things considered:
a fact many have expressed their amazement of.
We were lured into believing this would go on for ever.
Seven brothers and sisters,
living in good understanding:
a fact many have expressed their appreciation of.
When we prepared a trip to Barcelona
where we would all attend the marriage of a younger member of the family,
Annemie grew uneasy, asking whether we would ever quarrel.
We assured her that there could be no such thing among us.
I'm sure we have our wonderful parents to thank for such an attitude instilled in us.
Hugo was the elder brother.
He graduated as an electronic engineer in 1968.
His dream was America.
He did not want to spend his professional life
assembling bits developed by other people;
het wanted the real stuff, being at the controls himself.
Hugo dared to pursue that dream
and flew to the land of opportunities.
The land more than fulfilled his dreams.
All his brothers and sisters last visited him in august 2022.
We visited the Flight Museum.
Seeing Hugo on the prototype of HIS Boeing 747
proudly explaining how he contributed to the electronics,
radiating with fulfillment,
is an image that will remain in our memories for ever.
Fluke was his company
during the major part of Hugo's professional career.
We don't know very much about it,
except that he travelled the world for them.
And that took him to Europe on occasions as well,
leaving room for a short stay at the hometown of his younger years
and being together with all of us.
He must have learned things from many countries.
As for Mexico, for instance,
it taught him that 'mañana' does not mean 'tomorrow'
it means: 'not today'.
Down the staircase in his home
there is a goodbye-poster from his Fluke colleagues
which speaks of profound friendship and appreciation.
In all our gatherings, whether in the USA or in Belgium
there was always a moment for us to sing the boy scout Evening Song;
it became the symbol of our bond.
We last sang it at the end of our 2022 visit.
Hugo had contracted COVID at the end of our stay.
We sang the song standing together on the driveway,
Looking up at Hugo sitting behind the window of the living-room.
Even then we began wondering whether there would be another such moment.
Hugo's professional life was a life of fulfillment.
America fulfilled his private dreams as well.
During his short stay in Chicago he met the love of his life.
The irony is that they were not at all meant to meet on that skiing trip day.
She was, as our wise mother put it in 1972, "just the right person for Hugo."
How prophetic these words were!
We remember that Hugo wanted Mary Ann "notte to talke with her hands",
but apart from that relic of Italian manners,
we are sure Hugo and Mary Ann lived in perfect harmony
and that he relied heavily on her.
She obliged in abundance.
Hugo must have had a good guardian angel,
but, surely, Mary Ann made the angel's life ever so easy.
She herself was Hugo's principal guardian angel.
When Hugo's old heart finally gave up, she was that life-saving angel literally.
Hugo's condition did not make things easier for her,
ever being on guard, ever watching out for the slightest sign of alarm.
Hugo and Mary Ann have three remarkable children
who have done well
and for us have always been the best of company.
Mary Ann, we love you.
We are proud of you
for who you are as a person,
for who you have been as a wife,
making your life together a marriage of abundant fulfillment.
And now, big brother, your road has come to an end.
We are sad.
We are sad we cannot be here, once more, all together
to sing that evening song, just for you.
But in this hour of mourning we do not fail
to be proud and grateful.
You remain our number one!
We hope and pray that you are finding the reward for a life of fulfillment and dedication.
Give him, Lord, blessing and rest and peace.
Your brothers and sisters
Rudi, Emiel, Bea, Lut, Gerti, Marleen
