Patrick Boonefaes, president of Vendée-Akamasoa, is no more…
Published on September 11, 2024 by Vendée-Akamasoa
On June 23, 2019, Marietta and Patrick Boonefaes received Father Pedro in Les Herbiers, Vendée, on the occasion of his tour of France, for a moment of sharing with the volunteers and friendly supporters of the Vendée-Akamasoa association (reproduction prohibited without permission).
Sad news indeed. Patrick Boonefaes, co-founding president of the Vendée-Akamasoa association, died on Monday September 9 at the age of 66, following an illness that struck him about a year ago, and against which he fought with all the determined energy that was his trademark in life. An energy that Patrick, alongside his wife Marietta, and the volunteers of the Vendée-Akamasoa association, had put at Father Pedro’s service, relaying actions to finance or contribute to his humanitarian work in Madagascar, with the dispatch of foodstuffs and basic necessities, fund-raising, etc….
The Vendée-Akamasoa association was founded on September 1, 2010, with, alongside Patrick Boonefaes, Renée Bossard, initiator and head of the humanitarian section of the Puy du Fou (Puy du Fou Espérance), who was secretary and treasurer of Vendée-Akamasoa until her death in 2018. Patrick, even more so since his retirement, had made the support of Father Pedro’s charitable actions his hobbyhorse, sparing no effort, with the members of the association, to find patrons and donors, thus enabling containers filled with goods of all kinds to be sent to Madagascar, by boat, for the benefit of Father Pedro’s protégés… Thus, in December 2023, two containers (the 34th and 35th) were loaded with 40 tons of soap, clothing, medical and school supplies for 15,000 families in Akamasoa, Madagascar… Patrick often went there with his wife Marietta and, despite his state of health, was planning to go in October 2024…
Together, in the still recent past, we were able to push back the boundaries of humanitarianism by carrying out large-scale dough expeditions for Père Pédro in Madagascar.
Patrick Adam de Villiers, Father Pédro & Patrick Boonefaes (le Puy du Fou – June 2017)
https://www.flickr.com/photos/madagascaramericafoundation/albums/72157713040584348/with/49511552746
https://www.flickr.com/photos/madagascaramericafoundation/albums/72157663106496317/
https://www.flickr.com/photos/madagascaramericafoundation/albums/72157685380661182/with/37179487852
https://www.flickr.com/photos/madagascaramericafoundation/albums/72157683606950364/
Made in close collaboration and friendship with Patrick Boonefaes.
May he rest in peace.
He will always be remembered.
Patrick & Vibeke Adam de Villiers
Madagascar Association
Madagascar Foundation
Adam de Villiers Foundation
