Singer George Michael will be laid to rest next to his mother in Highgate Cemetery, North London. The gravesite had previously been overgrown with plants and weeds but has recently been cleared and adorned with beautiful yellow and white flowers in preparation for the upcoming funeral. George was known for being very close with his mother Lesley Angold, a professional dancer who died of cancer at age 60 in 1997. The star is said to have visited his mother’s grave frequently so it is understandable that he would have liked this to be his final resting place. Arrangements are being made by George’s sister Melanie, 55. The funeral comes after loved ones endured a painfully long wait for the body to be released. Last week George’s death was determined by senior coroner for Oxfordshire Darren Salter, to be the result of natural causes, specifically a dilated cardiomyopathy with myocarditis and fatty liver. The former member of the pop duo Wham!’s body was discovered on Christmas Day by his live-in boyfriend of 5 years, hairdresser Fadi Fawaz, 43. Fadi is reportedly being excluded from the funeral planning and was quoted by The Daily Mirror as saying, “I can’t tell you about the funeral. Everything is being kept quiet. It’s all so strange.” Fadi is expected to be in attendance in spite of not being involved in the planning of the funeral, as is former Spice Girl Geri Horner, 44, who was a dear friend of the singer and who is believed to be preparing a special reading for the service. Grieving fans have been gathering at George’s mansion in Highgate for weeks, many leaving flowers and balloons as a tribute to his memory. The family has made a request that the public and media respect their privacy during this very difficult and emotional time.
R.I.P.
