Fans Willy Naessens say goodbye to the funeral register in « his » Wortegem-Petegem: « We used when we heard it » (inland)
There is doubt that Willy Naessens would like to be seen in his home port. The flags are half-mast and the funeral register is open in Wortegem-Petegem. « There are not as many people as him. Such a big entrepreneur, and yet so a clean folk man. »
Thierry Devos and Carla Derck had already opened the town hall in front of the door on Tuesday afternoon. Only the mayor and the first ships were ahead of them to sign the mourning register.
Carla Derck. – © Peter Malaise
« Such a clean person, » says Carla. « He always said that his people were his capital. But he was really like that. He had a lot of money, but he was incredibly generous. I can’t imagine that he wasn’t there. My mother used to have a cafe in Anzegem. I was a girl of eight, Willy a late forties. He often came. He treated the people, what you really did? »
« I put my hand out. Do you know what he did? He put his car back, drove my direction and got out to give me a hand. A man with 2,500 employees then. He knew us all”
Thierry Devos
Worked for 20 years for Willy Naessens’ company
Her husband Thierry worked for 20 years as a driver for the company. « He was an incredible boss. I was always on my way, but I saw him a lot. If he was somewhere at a party or at a meeting, he looked at what yards were around and he once stopped. He was always working. »
Thierry Devos. – © Peter Malaise
The man remembers a moment in celles, just about the language border, about ten years ago. “I stood still with the motorcycle. He left a party room. I put my hand out. Do you know what he was doing? He put his car back in, drove my direction and got out to give me a hand. A man with 2,500 employees then knew us all. scanted When we heard the news about his death. » (JCD)
With his own carriage to the church of Elsegem
Willy Naessens will be buried next week on Saturday 12 April in the Sint-Mauruskerk of Elsegem. « This Saturday was no longer possible, one day before the Tour of Flanders, » says the funeral director. As Naessens wanted it himself, the service will take place in Elsegem, although Marie-Jeanne and he now lived in Celles and Kluisbergen.
« I assume that I will lead the service, » says Father De Boever. « But I haven’t had a personal conversation with the family yet. »
From his De Strohoeve stud farm, he will, even as he wanted, be brought to church in his own body. If the weather is nice, the family will follow on foot, a walk of 700 meters. The church of Elsegem has only room for 240 people. Many people will have to follow from the outside.
Also view. Entrepreneur Willy Naessens died at the age of 86
