On October 6, 2020, Eddie Van Halen died after battling throat cancer for years. His death certificate listed several causes of his death, including a cerebrovascular accident or stroke, pneumonia, lung cancer, and bone marrow disorder myelodysplastic syndrome.
While his family mourned after the loss, they also found a way to celebrate his life in a special way - by ordering a pizza.
Eddie Van Halen's Family Celebrated His Life
Van Halen's ex-wife, Valerie Bertinelli, appeared in an interview with People for the magazine's latest cover story, during which she opened up about what happened on the day they lost the musician.
"I didn't want to believe it was happening. Even while it was happening, I wasn't believing it was happening," said Bertinelli, adding they found comfort in Van Halen's favorite food after his death. "I forget who suggested it, but we were like, 'Should we have pizza?' ... Because he couldn't eat, and the last thing Ed really wanted was pizza. He loved pizza and burritos, so we had pizza in his hospital room. I hope people don't think that's morbid."
The 63-year-old said Van Halen knew how much she loved him.
Noting his last words to her and their son, Wolfgang Van Halen, she revealed that the "Finish What Ya Started" singer told them "I love you."
Bertinelli and Van Halen were married for 20 years.
Prior to Van Halen's death, he dealt with more health issues after going in and out of medical facilities due to intestinal issues. He also underwent chemotherapy and traveled back and forth from the U.S. and Germany for his radiation treatment.
READ ALSO: Eddie Van Halen's 'Hot for Teacher' Guitar Up for Sale for Whopping Amount - See Price Here
Eddie Van Halen, Valerie Bertinelli Were Okay Before His Death
Speaking with USA Today, Valerie opened up about the essay she included in her cookbook. The part in question revealed she and Eddie "never stopped loving each other."
"The love that Ed and I shared - and we did come to a very wonderful place at the end of his life - was our unconditional love for our son," she continued. "My son was losing his father, I was in a relationship that was terribly wrong for me, and I was holding on to some sort of lifeline because of the years I had with Ed."
The matriarch said she only wanted things to be okay for Eddie and Wolfgang, but they soon lost him.
READ MORE: Wolf Van Halen Has One Wish After Eddie's Death, 'Distance' Anniversary
