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A year after the death of Catherine Laborde, her family gathered in Paris to mark the anniversary. The meeting mixed tenderness and tension, bringing together daughters, grandchildren and the father of her children to lay flowers at Montparnasse.
Family visit at Montparnasse: who attended the remembrance
On the anniversary, relatives walked to the grave at the cimetière du Montparnasse. The moment was quiet and intimate.
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- Gabrièle and Pia, her two daughters.
- Four grandchildren: Saul, Alba, Sienna and Raphaëlle.
- Jimmy, the father of the two daughters, who remained close to Catherine.
- Other members of the family joined for a brief tribute.
The group brought flowers and spent time by the tomb. Witnesses described the atmosphere as warm and family-centred.
Final weeks recalled by her children
In an interview with Gala, Gabrièle and Pia told how their last shared moments unfolded. They spoke about the Christmas before her death and the sudden decline that followed.
- Catherine passed away at 73 at her home on the Île d’Yeu, in Vendée.
- The daughters said they gathered at her bedside with other close relatives.
- An aide named Alexandra, and the sisters, were also present during the final days.
According to the daughters, Catherine remained lucid enough to recognise family members. They say they took turns caring for her in the months before she died.
Memory and private gestures
The family highlighted ongoing bonds between Catherine and Jimmy. Despite their separation, the relationship stayed respectful.
Jimmy was invited to the commemoration and took part in the visit to the cemetery. The gesture underlined a long-standing understanding between the former couple.
Dispute around Thomas Stern and his book
Not everyone was present at the one-year gathering. Thomas Stern, Catherine’s second husband, was not invited to the small family tribute.
The reason given was the publication of his book, titled Y a-t-il une vie après la mort, released days before the anniversary. In that text, Stern portrays himself as the principal caregiver during Catherine’s illness.
That portrayal angered several family members. Daughters and Catherine’s sister publicly challenged his claims. They insist the daughters organised and provided the majority of daily care.
Family reactions and public rebuttals
Françoise Laborde, Catherine’s sister, spoke out strongly. She accused Stern of misrepresenting the family situation and said his account was ill-timed.
“She wanted distance,” she said, referring to Catherine’s feelings toward Stern in the final years.
Thomas Stern defended his version of events on television. He maintained that his involvement was real and said he visited during the illness. The exchange widened the rift and sparked debate in the press.
Career, illness and public life remembered
Catherine Laborde had been a familiar face on French television. She presented the weather on TF1 for nearly three decades.
- She announced in 2018 that she suffered from maladie à corps de Lewy.
- The disease causes cognitive and motor symptoms and affects daily life.
- Her funeral took place on 6 February 2025 at the Saint-Roch church in Paris.
Family members, colleagues and friends gathered at the funeral to pay respects. The anniversary visit a year later recalled that public farewell while adding more intimate family memories.
