George Michael has finally been laid to rest, some three months after his death of natural causes on Christmas Day and three weeks after his body was finally released by the coroner.
The small, private ceremony was held Wednesday and attended by family and close friends, the BBC reported Wednesday, citing a statement released by the late pop star’s family.
“George Michael’s family would like to thank his fans across the world for their many messages of love and support,” the family said in the statement. “We ask that the family’s wish for privacy be respected so that they can continue to live their lives privately, away from any media intrusion.”
According to the Sun newspaper Michael’s final resting place, Highgate Cemetery north of London, had been hounded with inquiries about when the burial would take place, to the point it placed a brief statement on its website telling visitors it had no information for them.
Michael’s lengthy wait to be laid to rest surpasses that of another music legend who died a decade earlier. In early 2007, disputes among the survivors of James Brown held up the Godfather of Soul’s interment. Brown, who died on Christmas Day 2006, was buried 75 days later on March 10.
• Ken Shepherd can be reached at kshepherd@washingtontimes.com.
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