Father Benjamin Aalbers, 46, dies from lung cancer just hours after marrying partner Rachel

A Traralgon dad-of-two raced to the altar after a life changing diagnosis forced the couple to live out a “horrendous movie scenario”.

Ben Aalbers and Rachel Aalbers on their wedding day on February 21, 2024 after being declared husband and wife. Picture: Supplied

A Traralgon man who died after battling lung cancer has been remembered for his creativity, passion for building crafts and loving nature.

Benjamin Aalbers, 46, married Rachel, his partner of 15 years, on Wednesday February 21 at 2pm.

By 3am the next day, he had passed away.

“It’s like one of those horrendous movie scenarios that you see,” the former self-employed renovator’s older sister Natasha Aalbers said.

“You know, the terminally ill patient. And he passed very, very quickly after his wedding.”

Natasha said her brother hadn’t been feeling well for a while, and had only been recently diagnosed with the illness but it was too late.

Traralgon father Ben Aalbers, 46, died from lung cancer the morning after he married his partner Rachel just a week ago. Picture: Supplied

“The doctors told him there was nothing they could do, and that his cancer was terminal. He passed 10 days later,” Natasha said.

“He’d been really tired and stuff — and he had a persistent cough but didn’t really think much of it.

“And then I kept saying to him, ‘you still got this cough? Go to the doctors’.”

She said Ben was always really fun and loving.

“If you ever needed an alternative view on something, Ben was the one to have it,” Natasha said.

Ben Aalbers and Rachel Aalbers celebrating Rachel’s birthday when they were younger. Picture: Supplied

“He always had heaps of creative ideas — he was in the middle of converting a bus into a mobile house when he got sick.

“It’s sitting there half finished at the moment.”

Natasha said one thing her brother would be most remembered for was his love for black clothing.

“Seriously, I don’t think I ever saw him in anything else,” she said.

“His love of black clothing and his excitement to build things — he was always excited to create, build stuff and to convert stuff.”

Mr Aalbers with his stepson Lenny and daughter Alivia when they were children. Picture: Supplied

Natasha said her brother had so many things going for him.

“He’s got two kids. He is a stepdad to his oldest one (Lenny) who is 22 and has special needs,” she said.

“And his biological daughter Alivia is about to turn 15.

“Both children have autism — Lenny is a lot worse than Alivia is.

“So I really feel for Rachel. She’s got such a difficult, difficult time ahead of her — raising two autistic kids without her partner.”

Ben’s wife Rachel described getting married as a bittersweet moment.

“It was lovely that we got married finally but at the same time staying with him until the very end, that was kind of hard but something that needed to be done because I loved him so much,” Mrs Aalbers said.

A fruit bowl Mr Aalbers made for his wife Rachel, which she said she will treasure forever. Picture: Supplied

“I just wanted him to know that he wasn’t alone.”

She said a fond memory with her husband was the trip they took to Squeaky Beach.

“It was just the best day ever,” Mrs Aalbers said.

She added her husband was very clever.

“One of his famous quotes was, ‘I can do absolutely everything except give birth’,” Mrs Aalbers said.

“He was the most liveliest guy you’d ever meet and he was a fantastic craftsman — he made a wonderful fruit bowl for me which I will treasure forever.

“He may have had trouble expressing how he felt but it was the actions in which he expressed himself and showed how much he loved me.

“Our life was a true love story, and one that will live on in my heart forever.”

Natasha has organised a GoFundMe page to help raise funds for the family during their time of mourning.

“Ben’s passing has come as a huge shock to his parents, his three siblings and his extended family and friends,” Natasha wrote in the fundraiser.

“I’m his big sister, I’ve got to do what I can,” she said.

A funeral service will be held for Ben at the Traralgon Cemetery & Crematoriumon on Wednesday March 6.