Louise Graney and Luke Ware had been together for nine years when he was killed by a lorry crashing into his car.
They were preparing to celebrate their 10th anniversary in January and the couple were engaged with two children.
Now his children, Tyler, seven, and Ruby, six, have been left without a father and Miss Graney has lost the partner with whom she built a life.
Mr Ware, 29, a plumber, from Foulden, near Thetford, was killed when the lorry being driven by Grigore Anton crossed into the opposite lane on Foulden Road, Didlington, on October 9, 2018.
Anton was sentenced to 18 months in prison for causing death by careless driving at Norwich Crown on Tuesday, May 28, and banned from driving for two years.
But Miss Graney, 27, said this does not change the fact her children have lost a father.
She said: "It is not enough time at the end of the day, it isn't going to bring Luke back.
"After his sentence he will be able to go home and see his son but my children don't have a dad, they don't get to see their dad anymore.
"I'm devastated, he was my best friend, my soulmate, my life, he was taken just like that."
The couple met back in 2010 when they were introduced through a mutual friend. They started dating and the relationship blossomed from there.
Since Mr Ware's death Miss Graney has been struggling to cope without him.
She added: "I have been diagnosed with depression and started counselling with bereavement sessions for myself and the children.
"Nine years is a long time to be with somebody and to have children with. The children are okay but it has been a struggle.
"Tyler just had his seventh birthday and he was crying all weekend because he wanted to see his daddy. Ruby likes to talk about him but when she does she gets really upset, she was a proper daddy's girl.
"They are a bit like me and hide their feelings away but they ask loads of questions which I find hard to answer."
Miss Graney has left Norfolk and moved back to Bedfordshire to live with her father, step-mother and brother for support.
"There are no words that can help anyone in a situation like this, it is so horrible I wouldn't wish it on anyone," she added.
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