The festive season won’t be the same in Sandbaai without André van Eyssen who decorated his home with thousands of twinkling Christmas lights every year for nearly 20 years. He died on Monday 21 April after recovering from a heart attack and complications following an operation.
Van Eyssen became well-known in the community for spreading the Christmas cheer every year since moving to Sandbaai with his wife, Joy, more than 20 years ago. The couple, who collected beautiful Christmas decorations from all over the world during their overseas travels, and were also gifted many more, would deck their garden and home out with hundreds of metres of twinkling lights, Joy’s extensive collection of beautiful Santa figurines, Van Eyssen’s colourful large wooden coach and gaily-decorated mini-tanker and countless Christmas-themed plush toys.
Over the years they welcomed thousands of visitors to their home to share in the joy of the festive spirit. After Joy died in 2019, Van Eyssen, however, started scaling down and no longer opened his home to visitors.
The jovial former accountant and professional soccer player would, however, still dress up in his Santa outfit and sit outside in his festively decorated garden or the garage to warmly welcome anyone who stopped by to admire the festive displays.
Van Eyssen, who was part of the Sandbaai Neighbourhood Watch, also used this as an opportunity to raise funds for the neighbourhood watch by setting out a small donation box.
He also loved to keep busy with woodwork, crafting various items such as small wood and mesh boxes used to dry biltong. He also enjoyed a good “kuier” with friends at his home and led a busy social life.
His daughter Lee Herskedal said Van Eyssen’s health took a turn for the worse recently. “Dad was in hospital for about eight weeks. He suffered a heart attack and there were complications after the stent operation, but he fought so bravely because he wanted to come home to the house where he shared so many memories with my mom, and where I’m sure he could still feel her presence.
“He desperately longed for my mom and did everything he could to keep her memory alive, such as visiting their favourite places and going on a cruise to Mauritius on his own last year, because it was something they did together.”
She invited anyone who would love to continue her father’s tradition of decorating their house to spread some Christmas cheer, to contact his family.
“Unfortunately the house will have to be sold, but we would be more than happy to donate his decorations.”
He is survived by her, her sons Darren and Juan, their spouses and seven grandchildren. A memorial service was held on Friday 2 May at 11:00 at Christ Church, Hermanus in Jose Burman Drive in Eastcliff.