Stefan Mross mourns: ex-wife Stefanie Hertel steps in!

Stefan Mross mourns: ex-wife Stefanie Hertel steps in!

Stefan Mross, the well-known presenter of the ARD show *Always on Sundays*, is in an emotionally difficult phase as he mourns the loss of his mother Stefanie. She died on August 20, 2025 at the age of 85 in Upper Bavaria after suffering from dementia for a long time. Mross has decided to take a family break this Sunday, August 24, 2025 and will not be hosting the show. This reports oe24.

In order to fulfill his heart's desire, Mross asked his ex-wife Stefanie Hertel to take over the moderation. Hertel, who was divorced in 2001 and has a daughter with Mross, was immediately ready to comply with this request. Your willingness to step in for Mross during this difficult time is interpreted as a sign of solidarity. The pop singer Uta Bresan will also support Hertel in the moderation.

Family ties and shared memories

Stefan Mross and Stefanie Hertel met in the popular music scene and were a couple from 1994 to 2012. They married in 2001 and have a daughter, Johanna, who was born in 2001. Despite their separation in 2012, Mross and Hertel continue to treat each other with respect, especially in light of their tragic loss. Hertel's willingness to host sends a strong message about family and emotional support in times of grief, as well Focus reported.

Mross himself has always emphasized in the past how important his family is to him. In 2024, he placed his mother in a nursing home, but visited her frequently and even canceled a charity appointment to celebrate her birthday. This close bond shows how much his mother's illness burdened him and how important he was to her until the end.

Music as emotional support

In difficult times like these, music can play a special role. People suffering from dementia often lose memory for everyday things, while musical memories remain. According to music doctor Eckart Altenmöller from the University of Music, Theater and Media in Hanover, pop songs and hits from youth remain anchored in emotional memory. These memories are often stored deep in the limbic system of the brain, which is less affected in people with dementia. Also My church newspaper emphasizes that musical experiences are intense experiences that are able to reactivate buried memories.

The current episode of *Always on Sundays* will be broadcast live on ARD at 10 a.m. and expects guests like Hansi Hinterseer, Eloy de Jong and Francine Jordi. Despite the tragic occasion, Hertel's commitment and support from Bresan is a sign of strength and family solidarity in dark times.