Tell relatives you love them Poignant message from George Michael’s family
GEORGE Michael’s family want fans to pay tribute to the star with an outpouring of love – for their relatives.
The singer’s nearest and dearest are calling on people to say “I love you out loud”.
Their poignant message comes as they prepare to spend a heartbreaking first Christmas without George, who died last Christmas Day at just 53.
George’s sisters Melanie and Yioda and their dad Jack said in a statement: “This Christmas will be hard without him, but we know that we are not alone in our mourning the anniversary of his loss.
“Christmas is not always easy, life isn’t perfect and families are complicated. So if you can, in his memory this year, take a moment and a deep breath and say those ‘I love yous’ out loud.”
Careless Whisper and Last Christmas star George – who was nicknamed Yog – was found dead at home in Goring- in-Thames, Oxfordshire, by boyfriend Fadi Fawaz, 44, a year ago.
Tireless
The past week has seen the mansion turned into a shrine as fans pay tribute with flowers, memorabilia and candles.
There is disappointment that an official concert or memorial t o celebrate George’s life never happened. But pals and fans hope there may still be one next year – not least to mark the tireless fundundraising George did for charity. The star’s fammily admitted it has s been a “challenge” to hear his songs when they miss him so desperately.
They added: “This s year has been a series ies of tough challenges s for those of us close and d loyal to Yog, not least steeling ourselves this month to hear Last Christmas and December Song streaming out of shops, cars and radios, as it has done for decades, knowing he’s no longer he here with us, missing him. We are a at ‘that age’ and realise many of you y will have had difficult losses too too. “Yog, w who loved Christmas and alwa always hoped it would snow, w would want each of you that admired and loved him (yes – he knows you did!!) to take a moment, raise a glass, enjoy his music and think of him fond- ly, making sure to enjoy your time with, and appreciate your family and friends. Y Yog shared his music with all of us and many of you connected deeply wi with his words. Have a g good Christmas ever ryone. And as our darling Yog would say... take care.” A coroner confi firmed George died of heart disease and a bu build- up of fat in his liver. He is buried at Highgate ghgate Cemetery, North London, next to his beloved mum Lesley. Wham! bandmate Andrew ndrew Ridgeley, 54, said of George’s orge’s death: “That night, despite having shed an ocean of tears already dy that day – the sheer eviscerating sense of loss cut my legs from beneath neath me and, on the deck and on my knees, I cried like I’d never ver cried before. “Nothing had prepared me for the depth of pain George’s ge’s death precipitated. The shock ock and disbelief were re overwhelming.”