Carolyn Steyn's heartfelt tribute to her husband and 'soul mate' Douw Steyn

South African philanthropist, actress, radio personality, and patron of the arts, Carolyn Steyn, the wife of insurance mogul Douw Steyn has shared a heartfelt tribute on her official social media platforms.

Carolyn is well-known for being the founder of “67 Blankets for Nelson Mandela Day”, an initiative that has become a global movement, mobilizing thousands of active members, both in South Africa and around the world to crochet and knit blankets.

Douw’s death was confirmed by Steyn City Properties, the luxurious 2000-acre estate in Johannesburg built in his name, on Tuesday.

In her tribute, Carolyn reflects on the love she shared with Douw over the years and her heart being shattered by his death.

“My heart and soul are shattered into a million pieces. I am broken.  Douw has been my all, my everything for twenty-five years and I know that I was his everything. We were meant for each other. Douw was my destiny. He was in fact my raison d’être. I don’t know how I am going to navigate the rest of my life without my soul mate…” she wrote.

Carolyn in her tribute shared intimate moments from their marriage such as the nicknames they called each other and Douw’s love for Elvis Presley.

“To me Douw Steyn was my best friend, my love, my comfort, my husband. Not a day went by where we did not tell each other ‘I love you.’. He was my ‘hunny bunny’, I was his ‘poopsie doll’.  

“He loved Elvis and in our gym every single day, (including Sundays), Douw would cycle to the sounds of Elvis Presley. But our song, which together we used to sing at the top of our lungs was Andrew Lloyd Webber’s ‘Love Changes Everything’. And it does. Douw my baby, I am going to miss you with every fibre of my being. I love you. I love you. I love you. 

“Rest well my love. You fought a hard battle over so many years. You conquered your demons, you became so kind, loving and gentle. You held my hand every single day. Thank you for giving me confidence, thank you for giving me wings, thank you for choosing me to be your loving wife. 

“It has been my greatest privilege to walk this long and sometimes difficult and painful journey at your side. You fought so valiantly and with such dignity. You never did lose your sense of humour and you are the only one who could make me laugh from the bottom of my toes. Rest well my love. 

“My heart belongs to you through all eternity. And right this minute  my heart has shattered into a thousand more pieces…”

The Steyn family had announced that tributes can be sent to condolences@palazzosteyn.co.za, while donations can be made to the Diepsloot Food Security Programme.

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