‘Grief does not stop or go away in any sense, a year, or years after the loss’
Lisa Marie Presley shared a heartbreaking final message about grief before her sudden death, aged 54.
Elvis Presley’s daughter passed away on Thursday hours after suffering from cardiac arrest, having spent her final years “devastated” by her son, Benjamin’s, suicide.
Paramedics performed CPR on the singer after finding her in her Calabasas, California, home before taking her to hospital for treatment.
In her final Instagram post, in August, Lisa Marie shared an essay she wrote about grief in the wake of her son’s death age 27.
“Hi. In honour of it being National Grief Awareness Day , I wrote an essay about Grief which was posted today on PEOPLE,” Lisa Marie shared.
“I thought I’d post it here in the hopes that anyone who needs to hear all of this, it helps in some way.”
Elvis’ only grandson died of a self-inflicted gunshot wound on 12 July 2020.
In July 2022, Lisa Marie shared a post of matching tattoos her and Benjamin got on their feet years earlier symbolising “that we will be connected eternally”.
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In the essay she gave to PEOPLE, Lisa Marie shared what she’s learned in the years since her son took his own life.
“This is not a comfortable subject for anyone, and it is most unpopular to talk about,” she wrote. “But if we’re going (to) make any progress on the subject, grief has to get talked about.
“Death is part of life whether we like it or not — and so is grieving,” she continued. “Grief does not stop or go away in any sense, a year, or years after the loss. Grief is something you will have to carry with you for the rest of your life, in spite of what certain people or our culture wants us to believe. You do not ‘get over it,’ you do not ‘move on,’ period.”
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Lisa Marie confessed she “beats myself up tirelessly” and blamed herself every day for her son’s passing, but advised others struggling with grief to lean on others for support.
She continued: “This is where finding others who have experienced a similar loss can be the only way to go. Support groups that have your specific kind of loss in common. I go to them, and I hold them for other bereaved parents at my home.
“Nothing, absolutely nothing takes away the pain, but finding support can sometimes help you feel a little bit less alone.”
Lisa Marie’s mother, Priscilla Presley, confirmed her daughter’s passing in a statement on Thursday, writing: “It is with a heavy heart that I must share the devastating news that my beautiful daughter Lisa Marie has left us.”
The actress went on: “She was the most passionate, strong, and loving woman I have ever known. We ask for privacy as we try to deal with this profound loss.
“Thank you for your love and prayers. At this time there will be no further comment.”
Congratulations to our Golden Globe winner for Best Actor – Motion Picture – Drama, @austinbutler!
#GoldenGlobes pic.twitter.com/3J0s10IeXs
— Golden Globe Awards (@goldenglobes) January 11, 2023
Her death came just days after she appeared at the Golden Globe Awards where she supported Elvis star Austin Butler, who took home the Best Actor, Motion Picture Drama, award.
Butler, 31, played Lisa Marie’s dad, Elvis, in the self-titled biopic and spent time with the King’s daughter and wife in order to embody the icon.
In his acceptance speech, Butler told Lisa Marie and Priscilla that he would love them “forever”.
Butler said: “I also want to thank our incredible producers and Warner Bros and the Presley family.
“Thank you guys, thank you for opening your hearts, your memories, your home to me. Lisa Marie, Priscilla, I love you forever.” V
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