Suzanne Somers' Birthday Celebration Turns into an Unforgettable Tribute: Her Enduring Legacy of Love Lives On

On Monday, October 16, Suzanne Somers' family celebrated what would have been her 77th birthday by gathering to sing "Happy Birthday" in a touching video they shared on Instagram. Standing together in the center of the group, her husband Alan Hamel and son Bruce Somers Jr. held a birthday cake.

"Thank you for your overwhelming love and affection for Suzanne. Many of you have asked how you can support our family. Hearing how Suzanne touched your lives brings us comfort," stated the caption on Somers' Instagram account. "We have created a Tribute Book on SuzanneSomers.com and we would greatly appreciate your comments. It helps us to know how her legacy of love lives on in all of you."

On Sunday, October 15, we confirmed that Somers passed away after a long battle with breast cancer. "Surrounded by her devoted husband, Alan, her son Bruce, and her immediate family, Suzanne left this world," stated her publicist, R. Couri Hay, in a statement to Us.

Hamel, aged 87, penned a heartfelt letter to his wife, Somers, of 46 years just before her passing. This letter, then later shared with Us, evoked emotions.

"Love is a word I use on a daily basis, sometimes multiple times a day. It is my way of expressing affection to my beloved family in the closing of emails. I even use it in emails to dear friends. It is also what I say when I'm bidding farewell before leaving the house," the letter expressed. "There are different variations of love - there's love, love you, and I love you!! That's how we express our feelings through love. Sometimes, I feel obliged to use love in response to someone who signed off with it in their email, even when I'm not entirely comfortable, but I use it anyway."

Hamel acknowledged that his love for Suzanne was beyond description, stating, "There are no words that can truly capture the depth of my love for Suzanne. Even the skilled scholars of the Oxford University Press have spent five decades without success in finding that one perfect word. Therefore, I will refer to it as 'us' - an uniquely, magically, and indescribably wonderful 'us'."

Suzanne's son, who she had with her first husband Bruce Somers Sr., also paid tribute to his mother in a heartfelt manner.

"She accomplished more than most can imagine. She advocated for those who couldn't speak up. She posed the questions that others didn't know to ask. She openly shared her struggles and shed light on solutions," Bruce expressed in a lengthy Instagram post on Monday. "To many, she was a courageous warrior who articulated their fears. She may not have been fearless, but she confronted them so that we could learn from her. She was a friend, a wife, a sister, a daughter, an entertainer, an icon, and a legend. But to me, she was simply Mom. I was privileged to be the only person who could call her that."

Bruce commended Suzanne for the lasting impact she left behind. "No matter how ready we may have been, it always feels too soon," he remarked. "However, she will live on within me, teaching me the values of kindness, presence, love, care, self-expression, and sincere communication from the heart... Because that is the divine voice."

In conclusion, he expressed, "I can sense your presence and I know you are here. Yet, I will long for your gentle touch and caring gaze, which used to penetrate deep into my soul to ensure everything was alright. Thank you for being the most remarkable mother any son could ever wish for. I already miss you. Pardon my desire, but 57 years simply weren't sufficient. Nevertheless, I received more love than I could have ever fathomed. I love you immensely."