Goodness overcomes grief
I decided that in honour of my husband, I will use the letters in his name, S-t-e-f-a-n, to come up with something good to do for someone on the 9th of each month until September
Turning ‘grief to goodness’ is how Candice van Staden aptly describes the journey mourning her husband Stefan, who passed away in a fire in Mooi River on September 9 last year.
The couple had been together for 13 years were married for six years and have two daughters aged 13 and four.
Candice says she prepared herself for the first couple of months, which everyone warned, would be tough.
“For the first months, I did mope about. I became so depressed on the 9th of each month and I realised I didn’t want to be like that. So on February 9, six months after my husband died, I woke up and decided to turn this grief into something good,” explains Candice. Which also explained her presence at Shepstone Place on Wednesday afternoon.
“I decided that in honour of my husband, I will use the letters in his name, S-t-e-f-a-n, to come up with something good to do for someone on the 9th of each month until September. Last month was ‘S’ so I handed out sweets to children in the street. And this month was ‘T’ which is tea and time, which I wanted to share with the residents at Shepstone Place,” added Candice.
The elderly residents at the Home were treated to cake and tea but more importantly time for conversation as Candice stopped at each table and engaged the residents in conversation about themselves and even their jewellery!
Next month Candice plans ‘Entertainment’ for the seniors and says that on September 9 the ‘N’ initiative would be big.
“I want to celebrate Stefan’s life, being down doesn’t get you anywhere, you have to go out and do something that can positively affect someone’s life,” said Candice.
She says that the end-result of spreading goodness has been overwhelming and rewarding.
