Book of Condolences : Hanneke de Boer

It is very sad to learn of the departure of Hanneke de Boer, which to some us too impromptu. We dearly love her but her maker loves her the  most. A strong pillar behind Global Campaign Against Epilepsy has crumbled leaving us guessing how the vacuum created could be filled. No amount of words could describe the loss the IBE and ILAE communities will be struggling with. On behalf of the Ghana Epilepsy Association and on my own personal behalf, I wish to extend our heartfelt condolences to the family of Hanneke de Boer. It is our firm belief that the Almighty God will make his face shine on her and grant her rest from all her earthly labor. Hanneke de Boer, Rest In Peace.
Paul Ayisu: Ghana Epilepsy Association

We are blessed to have known a person like Hanneke. She was a woman of strength and exemplary deeds. For everything she has done for people with epilepsy, we owe her our deep admirationl and the promise we will never forget her. Thank you, Hanneke!
Rosanne Blomme-Dorme – vzw IKAROS – Patient Organisation Flanders/Belgium

 I wish to express my sincere sympathy and condolences to all family in the passing of Hanneke.
The Epilepsy Community has lost a wonderful long serving advocate and she will be sadly missed by us all! I have had epilepsy now for 42 years, am an Advocate on Facebook, Twitter and other Social Media sites, and wish to thank her for her great support.
May she rest in peace!
Kind Regards,
Lesley Donnelly: South Africa

It was with great sadness that we received the message that beloved Hanneke de Boer had quietly passed away. It is a tremendous loss to the epilepsy community around the world and in particular in the International Bureau for Epilepsy. Hanneke was admired and respected everywhere by people working in the field of epilepsy and her outstanding contribution to improve quality of life of people with epilepsy and the Global Campaign against Epilepsy  will always be remembered.
Please send my deep condolence to her family.
Shichuo Li
Dr. Shichuo Li, M.D.   Lifetime Honorary President and Advisor, China Association Against Epilepsy

Her tremendous work within the Epilepsy community and her jolly character will never be forgotten.
Frank Portelli: Caritas Malta

In Hanneke we have lost not just a wonderful advocate for all people living with epilepsy but also a wonderful friend and colleague who always knew exactly how to get anything done by anyone of us that she felt needed to happen to advance the cause for people with epilepsy. But she was also wonderful fun to be with over a glass of her much-loved red wine and Hanneke could party almost as hard as she could work. One cannot investigate any social topic on epilepsy without continually coming across “Boer, Hd” all the time. Her publications were prolific and they mean that her name will live on for future generations with an interest in epilepsy. For those of us who knew her, she will live forever in our hearts.
MIKE GLYNN, IBE PAST PRESIDENT 

I would like to send Hanneke´s family my deepest condolences on behalf of EPI-APFAPE Portugal and me. Hanneke´s will be missed for all her work advocating for people with epilepsy.
Rest in Peace, Hanneke
Cristina Stuiver : EPI-APFAPE Portugal

With deep sadness I heard of the passing of Hanneke de Boer on Monday. What a loss of a longstanding friend! Hanneke was a tremendous and tireless advocate for a better life of all people with epilepsy throughout the world. Her dedication was exemplary, her commitment complete, her personality incomparable: a true ambassador for epilepsy.
With heartfelt condolences
Christoph Pachlatko : Swiss Epilepsy Foundation

Hanneke has passed away. One always struggles to find the right words to say in situations like these, and I’m afraid I’m no exception to that rule.
She appeared in Georgia in 2004 with proposal to perform the Global Campaign Demonstration Project in our country. This would be the first demonstration project in Europe. One could hardly imagine that this idea could work, but it did, like Hannekes all great ideas. She brought together people and institutions, she encouraged and taught, she spoke to government, politicians and society, she generously shared with our team her incredible energy, strength and faith. The project, which was successfully carried out in Georgia in 2008 – 2012,  raised  awareness on epilepsy  in our country to absolutely new level and brought wide  international acknowledgment to our epilepsy community.
Moreover, she stayed with us after accomplishment of this project and developed new plans, otherwise it would not be Hanneke. She initiated new cooperation between Georgia and SEIN with aim to develop “state of the art” epilepsy centre in our country and as always, she started to turn the dream into reality. As a result modern EEG monitoring unit called “SEIN –SKUH Epilepsy Centre” was officially opened in Tbilisi one year ago. Unfortunately Hanneke could not attend opening ceremony because of her illness, but despite of her health condition she was fully involved into the project until the last days, which is very typical for Hanneke and her way of life.
To say that it was a pleasure to work with Hanneke, means to say nothing, because to work with her was admirable, great and unbelievable fun, and it was incredible honor and happiness to be amongst her friends.
Natela Okujava : On behalf of the  IBE Chapter Georgia    SEIN – SKUH Epilepsy Centre

It a really a deep  sadness to hear about the passing of Hanneke de Boer on Monday 12th October, following a long illness. We present all our condolences and those of our colleagues in East Mediterranean region of IBE to her family and all professionals in IBE and ILAE.
Najib Kissani
Vice président in CEMA region

Wiadomość o śmierci Hanneke przyjęliśmy z wielkim zaskoczeniem i bólem. Nasz smutek i ból jest tym większy, że znaliśmy Hanneke osobiście. Dla rodziny składamy kondolencje i wyrazy głębokiego współczucia. Chorzy na padaczkę na całym świecie straciły wybitnego działacza walczącego o prawa do godnego życia dla chorych na padaczkę. Na zawsze pozostanie w naszej pamięci. Z głębokim smutkiem.
Tadeusz Zarębski – Poland

I express my deepest sympathies at the untimely passing of Hanneke.
She was one of the most active person and most involved in IBE. It is tremendous loss for all of PWE in the world.  I am deeply sad and grateful to her.
She taught me what IBE was. I never forgot her hospitality when I visited Heemstede. She showed almost everything in Stichting Epilepsie Instellingen Nederland (SEIN) and she invited me into the pretty IBE office in SEIN.The amaryllis that we got in DIY home center in Heemstede grows up and blooms every spring beautifully, which always reminds me of Hanneke.
I pray sincerely for the repose of her soul.
Hidemoto Kubota : Japan

GREAT  LOSS  FOR  ALL  US   AND  FOR  PEOPLE  WITH EPILEPSY
JOSE CARRERA  MD

Sandy Finucane : Epilepsy Foundation
The world has lost a great advocate for people with epilepsy.  Hanneke never forgot that the need and interest of a person with epilepsy for a fully integrated and meaningful life always comes first.  She was a wonderful role model and voice for epilepsy advocates, and a wonderful person as well.  Her tireless and groundbreaking work with the WHO on the Global Campaign Against Epilepsy and its implementation must continue without her  – she helped the international community set goals and standards for the entire world in how to improve life for people living with epilepsy, and for that alone we are grateful and indebted. My deepest condolences to Hanneke’s family and friends on their loss.

I am very sorry for her loss. She devoted her life to the fight in favour of people with epilepsy and she was an example of life for all who work in the world for this aim.
Receive my condolences. I will miss her very much.
LILIA NÚÑEZ-OROZCO :

Am deeply saddened to learn of the passing of Hanneker de Boer. I first Met Hanneker in 1999 and she greatly inspired me and encouraged me to work with people with epilepsy. She recruited me on the African Commission for Epilepsy which she headed then and continued to encourage me to set up a Ugandan chapter and to move around East Africa encouraging the formation of epilepsy chapters in the region. Please accept and pass my heart felt condolences to all colleagues and family. May her soul rest in eternal peace.

It was simply too sudden! I never knew that the teleconferencing last September was the first and last of hearing her always bubbling voice and infectious laughter! I have known her since 2001 when I was new to the IBE. She is indeed, deeply missed!
Sherman Goh : Epilepsy Care Group

On behalf of the Epilepsy Association of Sierra Leone I write with regret having received the loss of a key holder. The passing away of Hanneke de Boer on Monday 12th a patriot who opened the doors to
improve the quality of life of people with epilepsy around the world cannot be forgotten easily. May her soul rest in peace.  
Max A. Bangura, National Coordinator, Epilepsy Association of Sierra Leone (EASL)

On behalf of Institute of Neurology and Neuropsychology, I would like to express my deepest sympathy on Hanneke de Boer’s death. We had the pleasure to know and work with Ms. Hanneke. During years of collaboration, she showed herself as dedicated professional and leader as well as excellent person and friend. Please accept our sincere sympathy to her family and all professional communities in SEIN, IBE and ILAE.
Giorgi Lomidze – Georgia

On my own and on behalf of the Slovenian  epilepsy community where many of us have had the chance to meet Hanneke here personally, as a  guest of our dedicated meetings on psychosocial aspects of epilepsy, I am expressing our deepest sorrow at this loss.
Hanneke was a vivid, positive, knowledgeable lady and an energetic fighter – colleague and a dear ally we ll keep in our memory. We had never seen her abandon the striving for the goals  she had set.
The epilepsy community lost a great and nice person and a memorably active member, a person who can serve as an example. Please accept our deepest sympathy and covey our conolences to the people closeset to Hanneke.
Igor M Ravnik, MD
past President, Slovenian Chapter ILAE
Ambassador of epilepsy, ILAE

We regret that Hanneke past so soon, to soon away.  She was a tremendous power in IBE and always stood up for the social quality of life for people with epilepsy.  We will miss her and her empowerment!
Claudine Van Daele, Flemish Epilepsy League

Abbiamo tutti perso un importante punto di riferimento, abbiamo un grande esempio da interpretare.
AICE – Giovanni Battista Pesce : Italy

Greatly dedicated to the cause of Epilepsy for her full life. Always helpful, smiling and in action. My last meeting with her was at Rome in 2011. She gave me some souvenirs of IBE. She will be deeply missed by all of us .Great example to follow. May her soul rest in peace.
Dr.Pravina Ushakant Shah Mumbai India

Our deepest condolences . And much strength with this loss to the family and friends.
With regards
Epilepsie Vereniging Nederland

Hanneke was in all things dedicated and I think she believed deeply that bringing epilepsy into the light around the world required a huge collaborative effort, something that must be shared rather than owned by any particular power group, and her life attests to the fact that she gave her all trying to build so that it would happen. She even offered to accommodate without charge anyone we might like to send to the Netherlands to look at the work they were doing there and to learn from them whatever might be useful for us. I know that Hanneke understood very deeply the need for ongoing global conversations and that it was critical that these not be captured by any particular person or power group. She was funnily enough a very powerful person herself and I recall people could have trouble getting her attention . . . because so many people wanted it at the same time and there are after all only 24 hours in a day. She gave and gave and gave and I admired her indefatigable determination to see and truly share the possibilities and to keep moving towards them. So many people who have had the opportunity to be her friend or her colleague will doubtless miss her as will those who knew her more personally. The epilepsy movement will surely miss her. And I will also miss her.
Russell Pollard : Australia

Your advocacy was unparalleled and has been a force for good resulting in permanent improvements in the lives of people and for that you will never be forgotten.
Simon Shorvon : UK

Hanneke was truly a lovely person.  Words cannot express my sadness at her passing.  She welcomed me into her heart and home.  God bless her, may she find eternal joy.
Carol D’Souza

The executive committees of Indian Epilepsy Association and Indian Epilepsy Society are extremely saddened to learn the demise of respected Hanneke de Boer, synonymous with “Global Campaign Against Epilepsy-Epilepsy Out of Shadow”. Both the organizations bow their head to this great selfless advocate and pray to God that her soul Rest in Peace.
Man Mohan Mehndiratta : Indian Epilepsy Association and Indian Epilepsy Society