A festive farewell evening in the presence of the person who is preparing for the big farewell, instead of a sad funeral day without him? It took Mario Hudon to think of it!
The man who established himself as a fixture on sports radio in Quebec for many years has been suffering from amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS) for almost three years.
He received the diagnosis on December 7th, 2020 and it is the exact same day he decided to surrender as medical euthanasia will end his suffering on December 7th.
You only have to know Super Mario to know that a gathering of mourners around his coffin is not his thing. On December 2, one evening in his presence in a room in the park of Pointe-aux-Lièvres, people were invited to greet him alive.
Under the tender gaze of his wife Nancy, Mario Hudon maintains his eternal smile, even though he knows that he is at the end of his life. Photo Stevens LeBlanc
“I would have liked to have announced the return of the Nordic countries better, but that’s how it is,” he said, still armed with his mocking smile, when the author of these lines met him in the comfort of his home.
Always sharp
Apparently the person who made a name for himself in radio as a “plate manager” in his final years is not doing well. Although he finds it difficult to express himself, his ideas are still completely clear and his sense of humor is as disarming as ever.
When the nurse who came by at the same time as us asked him if he was out of breath, the eternal joker answered immediately.
“Especially when I go running,” he said and laughed heartily, knowing full well that the cruel degenerative disease confines him to his wheelchair.
Despite the evil that torments him, he had never thought to complain about his fate.
time to go
Photo Stevens LeBlanc
At his side, his better half, Nancy, looks after him lovingly. Morale seems to be good, even when times are difficult. The couple perseveres with their two children and two precious grandchildren. Even when illness strikes mercilessly, love does not waver.
After all, there is reason to be happy. Little Isaac, 10 years old, has just been named captain of his Atom A ice hockey team. His brother Nathan will celebrate his 15th birthday next week on November 23rd.
“Mario has been telling me for a while that he’s waiting for Nathan’s party before he goes. Since Isaac has just been named captain, Mario is so proud of the others. He says that Grandpa will no longer be there, but that he will stand in the corner of the arena and watch them,” confides his dear Nancy.
One last time
Photo Stevens LeBlanc
That’s why Mario Hudon and his family will welcome everyone who wants to pay their respects to the proud fighter on December 2nd.
“It’s much better to greet the people I love and who are in a good mood than to know that they’re crying in church without me there,” he reflects.
In the face of the inevitable, her Nancy stands behind her husband and respects his decision.
“He fought for a long time, but since the summer I had the feeling that he was preparing for this. He set a date last week. Mario has always hated morgues and he told me: It’s not true that you lock yourself up with people crying.
“He’s always been a gangster type and he’s leaving on the 2nd while he’s still alive.”
Knowing the guy, we’re in for quite a party!