At least 2,317 Quebecers have died of COVID-19 so far this year. One of them is Jennifer Hwang

Jennifer Hwang could light up a room. 

Marc Bouliane, her husband, described his wife as a bright and bubbly person: someone who was kind and caring and, most importantly, brave — the kind of person who always went all-in.

"She had very, I call it, an uncanny ability for empathy," Bouliane said. "She really was able to understand what people were feeling or going through … listening to their daily plight and trying to help people along the way."

They would have celebrated their 27th wedding anniversary this year.

But on Feb. 12, almost two months after she tested positive for COVID-19, Hwang died. She was 50 years old.

March 11 marks the second official National Day of Remembrance for Victims of COVID‑19 in Quebec — though you'd be forgiven for not realizing it.

The Quebec government honoured victims on this day last year, with great fanfare. But this year, there will be no ceremony. A spokesperson for Premier François Legault's office explained that instead, flags will be flying at half-mast on government buildings across the province and abroad.

The day of mourning comes just as the Quebec government prepares to repeal many of its COVID-19 restrictions. 

As of Saturday, vaccine passports will no longer be mandatory anywhere in the province, and capacity restrictions in bars and restaurants will be lifted.

Quebecers continue to die of COVID-19, however. According to Quebec's institute of public health (INSPQ), at least 2,317 Quebecers died due to complications of SARS-CoV-2 in 2022 alone.

One of them was Hwang.

Hwang's recent years were marked by health problems. In 2019, she had been diagnosed with follicular lymphoma, a type of cancer that affects the immune system.

"The last three Christmases, essentially, my wife has been in the hospital in one form or another," Bouliane said.

Hwang went through two rounds of chemotherapy. Meanwhile, Bouliane said the family was careful to try to keep her protected from COVID-19. Everyone was vaccinated, including Hwang, who had three doses. Bouliane alone said he spent over 70 days in isolation over the course of the pandemic, to ensure he wouldn't inadvertently infect his wife with the virus.