Margriet Hermans, the respected TV and music personality, chose to die by assisted suicide. She was 72.
Hermans, known for the talk show Margaret and her later political career, was diagnosed with neuroendocrine carcinoma in late April. The star chose to go through Belgium’s euthanasia process, also known as euthanasia.
Per World Federation of Right to Die SocietiesBelgium’s euthanasia process “is available to adults and ’emancipated minors’ with a serious and incurable condition causing unbearable suffering.”
Hermans’ daughter, singer Celien Hermans, broke the news of her mother’s death via Instagram, while also continuing to explain the legend’s final days.
“With deep sadness, but also with indescribable gratitude, father (Frank) and I say goodbye to my dear mother, Margriet Hermans,” Celien wrote. “For Flanders, she was a singer, a TV personality, a politician – a woman with a distinctive voice and a big heart. For me, above all, she was my home. My safe haven. My biggest critic and supporter. My best friend and most honest sounding board. My business partner and colleague. My everything.”
“We were alike in every way. Two stubborn women with big hearts, a love of music, humor as a survival mechanism and an indomitable drive to live life to the fullest. I am who I am today because of her. Not just in talent or character, but in zest for life. In gentleness. In strength.”
Celien then went on to explain the beloved cultural figure’s final days. When she began to feel the neuroendocrine carcinoma symptoms, Hermans became “extremely weak” with “excruciating pain”, leading to the decision to end her life.
“Mom lived life with an intensity rarely seen. She enjoyed things openly and exuberantly. She felt deeply. She brought joy to others. She gave everything she had – to her audience, to her friends, but above all to the people she loved, Celien remembered. “But unfortunately, the cancer manifested itself with an intensity rarely seen. We received the cancer diagnosis at the end of April. In mid-May, it was identified as a neuroendocrine carcinoma with limited treatment options. A few days later I took her to the hospital where chemotherapy was started sooner than planned.
“Unfortunately, Mom was already extremely frail at the time. Her energy quickly waned and the smile that normally graced her face disappeared very quickly. Faced with excruciating pain, terrible discomfort and a very limited prospect of a life of any quality, Mom made the difficult and courageous decision to take control of her life – or rather, the end of it.”
The family “lived very deliberately together” in the matriarch’s final days.
“We cried, laughed, reminisced and held each other’s hands – we held on until the moment we had to let go,” Herman’s daughter recalled. “And even when she said goodbye, she remained a mother: concerned for everyone around her, grateful, loving and strong.”
You can read the rest of Celien’s tribute to her mother below:
I am infinitely proud to have been her daughter. On behalf of our entire family, I would like to thank everyone for the tremendous love, warmth and support we have received during this time. The messages, flowers, words and memories have touched us deeply.
“No mountain is high enough, no sea is deep enough. Nothing holds me back. I can fly without wings and soar over everything.”
Go ahead and fly now, mom. Thanks for everything.
“I’m by your side and watching over you too.”
Celie
