In Memoriam Désirée Wenders - Janssen

Désirée joined Maastricht University on 1 August 1996, starting out as a financial consultant in the Finance service centre (then called Financial Economic Service). Soon after that, in November 2000, she qualified as a controller, a position she exercised in various parts of the Faculty of Health, Medicine and Life Sciences.  The position she held longest, and last, was at the School for Mental Health and Neuroscience (MH&NS).

Her disease first manifested itself about eleven years ago, but admitting defeat was the last thing on Désirée’s mind. She was always realistic about her disease and spoke about it accordingly, but she also showed herself to be determined in the face of it. Good times, uncertainty and setbacks alternated regularly, but her enormous fighting spirit remained to the very end. She indicated she was grateful for the time she kept 'receiving'. At the same time, she could not reconcile herself with the knowledge that the chemotherapy would one day stop working and she would have to give up.

We got to know Désirée as a dedicated, sincerely engaged employee, someone who took satisfaction in her job, which she happily remained involved with to the end. She also made an effort to enjoy life to the full. She was cheerful towards the outside world and nearly always had a smile on her face.

Désirée loved nature: walking was a great passion of hers. A select group of walking enthusiasts had formed among the staff and Désirée never missed an opportunity to join them. Of course, a lot of things were discussed during these walks and sometimes the conversations were intense. She had opinions and made no secret of them!

Apart from walking, she also found opportunities for pleasant relaxation in swimming and reading.

In September 2011, she married her great love and support. It hurts a lot that she is no longer with us. We wish her husband Harald and her family the strength they will need to come to terms with this loss.

Ruud Bollen, Finance Director
Edwin van Seggelen, Finance/Control Manager
Tom van den Crommenacker, Managing Director of the MH&NS School

Funeral

The funeral mass will take place in the church of Bocholtz on Monday 12 December at 11:00 am, following which Désirée will be laid to rest in the church cemetery.

The rites before mass are on Sunday 11 December at 9:45 am. Désirée is laid out in the Simpelveld mortuary and can be visited from 6:00 pm to 6:30 pm.