Suzanne Sommer and Her Spouse, Alan Hamel.
Actress Suzanne Summers passed away on the morning of October 15 at the age of 76, tragically just one day before her 77th birthday.
Her publicist revealed that she had been battling a relentless form of breast cancer for over 23 years.
Suzanne Somers’ spouse, Alan Hamel, tenderly presented the “Three’s Company” actress with a handwritten letter just a day prior to her passing.
Hamel, aged 87, shared this heartfelt poem with Somers as an early birthday gift, knowing that her 77th birthday was scheduled for today, October 16.
As per her publicist R. Couri Hay, Hamel “presented it to her a day in advance, and she read the poem before retiring for the night, eventually passing away peacefully in her sleep.” The message was written in capital letters and adorned with pink peonies.
Hamel wrote: “WHAT BRAND OF LOVE DO I FEEL FOR MY WIFE SUZANNE? CAN I FIND IT IN ANY OF THE ABOVE? A RESOUNDING NO!!!! THERE IS NO VERSION OF THE WORD THAT IS APPLICABLE TO SUZANNE, AND I EVEN USE THE WORD APPLICABLE ADVISEDLY.”
He continued, “THE CLOSEST VERSION IN WORDS ISN’T EVEN CLOSE. IT’S NOT EVEN A FRACTION OF A FRACTION OF A FRACTION. UNCONDITIONAL LOVE DOES NOT DO IT. I’LL TAKE A BULLET FOR YOU; DOESN’T DO IT. I WEEP WHEN I THINK ABOUT MY FEELINGS FOR YOU. FEELINGS… THAT’S GETTING CLOSE, BUT NOT ALL THE WAY.”
Suzanne Somers and Alan Hamel were married for 46 years.
Hamil explained, “55 YEARS TOGETHER, 46 MARRIED AND NOT EVEN ONE HOUR APART FOR 42 OF THOSE YEARS,” he shared. “EVEN THAT DOESN’T DO IT. EVEN GOING TO BED AT 6 O’CLOCK AND HOLDING HANDS WHILE WE SLEEP DOESN’T DO IT. STARING AT YOUR BEAUTIFUL FACE WHILE YOU SLEEP DOESN’T DO IT.”
He concluded: “I’M BACK TO FEELINGS. THERE ARE NO WORDS. THERE ARE NO ACTIONS. NO PROMISES. NO DECLARATIONS. EVEN THE GREEN-SHADED SCHOLARS OF THE OXFORD UNIVERSITY PRESS HAVE SPENT 150 YEARS AND STILL HAVE FAILED TO COME UP WITH THAT ONE WORD. SO I WILL CALL IT, ‘US, ’ UNIQUELY, MAGICALLY, INDESCRIBABLY WONDERFUL ‘US.’”
Hay wrote in a statement to PEOPLE shared on behalf of the actress’ family.
“Suzanne was surrounded by her loving husband Alan, her son Bruce, and her immediate family,” the statement continued. “Her family was gathered to celebrate her 77th birthday on October 16th. Instead, they will celebrate her extraordinary life, and want to thank her millions of fans and followers who loved her dearly.”
Somers gained her greatest recognition through her performances in “Three’s Company” and “Step by Step.”
As stated by Hay, a private family interment is scheduled for this week, with a commemorative gathering planned for November.