The widow of aid worker Simon Boas has spoken about her final days with him, describing them as “surreal” and “magical”. Mr. Boas had terminal throat cancer and was known for his positive outlook on death. His book, A Beginner’s Guide to Dying, is set to be released posthumously this week. Aurelie Boas oversaw the publication of the book and said that it was “a bit unusual to grieve this way”.
Mr. Boas’s writing about death has gained widespread acclaim for its unexpected positivity. In his final weeks, he said he was “as happy as I’ve ever been in my life”. Mrs. Boas said that he knew he would not see the book published: “He was trying so hard to let go of things. He knew he had done his part, he let it go.” Despite this, he was able to see the cover of the book before his passing.
The final days were spent in a hospice, with Mrs. Boas by his side. They watched Wimbledon on TV together, and despite his health declining, she said her husband kept his sense of humor. He had also taken one last drive around the island they lived on, wanting to see Jersey one last time. Mrs. Boas said he had been pulling away towards the end of his life, which may have been an effort to prepare her for his death.
For his part, Mr. Boas led a fulfilling life as an aid worker, traveling the world, including the Gaza Strip and Rwanda. He was diagnosed with terminal throat cancer in September 2023 and began writing about his experience. His articles framed death in what many saw as a radical and inspiring way. His writing quickly went viral, and the King himself recognized Mr. Boas’s courage in a letter of recognition.
Mrs. Boas explained that looking back, her husband’s final days may sound crazy, but it felt right. She is set to pick up the letter of recognition from the King this week. Her promise to her late husband was to have it framed and put in the downstairs loo
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