Nadine Williams

Farewell to my lovely Frenchman

It is time to share with you that my darling husband, Olivier Foubert died peacefully on Friday, May 11,  after a 16-month journey with advanced prostate cancer.  One of my Facebook friends wrote that I was so privileged with “the main event of life”, which she says is to experience love at a deep and committed personal level.  Indeed, ours was a warm, sensual, companionate love which filled my emotional needs and he made me very happy.

My eight-year life with Olivier has been a wonderful dance.  He was such a charming man in every way  – a loving, witty, intelligent gentleman, who was brave and courageous to the end.    When I began writing about the impact cancer had on my life, I couldn’t comprehend that it would snatch him from me. My name means hope which perhaps explains why I dwelt in hope for so long. Our time was still filled with incredible moments of joy – our exciting Seachange to Hindmarsh Island, building our new home, moving back into this amazing new living space, establishing our garden, hanging our art collection and entertaining our friends and family in the Alfresco.

Sitting on his desk right now are two special bottles of French red wine consumed in our celebration of life – a Domaine Borie de Maurel, Vendanges 2006 and a 2009 Grand Vin de Bourgogne, Francoise and Denis Clair Cote-de-Beaune Villages.  The last bottle was so special because it triggered memories of our few days at the beginning of vintage in Burgundy.   Olivier first took me to France in 2004 and the memoir I wrote about it, From France With Love, became a best-seller.

It was the Beatles who sang “Life is what happens when you are busy making other plans”.   Our many dreams are now dashed. Instead of many years of retired living, we have faced Olivier’s deteriorating health.  For our tribute at his funeral, I chose the song Dancing To The End of Love, which reflected our life together. Which leaves only one last thing to say – Farewell to my lovely Frenchman Olivier.  Au revoir. Rest in peace.

Be Sociable, Share!

• 
•