Losing a loved one is never easy, and the pain is only amplified on a significant day like a holiday, or their birthday.
Valerie Bertinelli is experiencing this pain as she remembers Eddie Van Halen on his birthday — the first since his passing. The actress and TV chef took to social media to share a heartfelt, unseen text from her ex-husband’s birthday last year.
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Eddie and Valerie’s son, Wolfgang, is also remembering the beloved musician on the first birthday since his passing.
Fans have been moved by the emotional tributes, and have begun to share their own on social media.
Despite divorcing in 2001 after twenty years together, Valerie and Eddie maintained a loving friendship up until his death.
In her first post after the rockstar’s death, Valerie revealed she was by his side when he died: “I’m so grateful Wolfie and I were able to hold you in your last moments. I will see you in our next life my love.”
The pair’s ongoing love and mutual respect is a post-divorce relationship most of us can only dream of.
This friendship is evident in a series of never-before-seen texts Valerie shared on her social media in honor of what would have been Eddie’s 66th birthday.
The texts were from their exchange on Eddie’s 65th birthday last year.
“Last years text,” Valerie shared on Twitter, alongside a broken heart emoji.
The message showed Valerie sending a GIF of a dog with the caption “Happy Birthday” alongside a text that read “Happy Birthday Ed!! XOXO.”
Ed replied to the text by saying “Thank you Val!! Love You!”
“Too bad no football today!!” he continued.
“Anyway, hope to see you again soon. Love – Ed,” the text concluded, with many heart emojis.
Valerie and Eddie’s son Wolfgang also posted a sweet tribute to his late father.
“Happy 66th birthday, Pop,” he wrote on Twitter.
“I wish I could give you the biggest hug and celebrate with you,” he continued.
“I love and miss you so much it hurts. I don’t even know how to put it into words. I’ve been doing my best to hold it together, but goddammit it’s really tough being here without you.”
“Not a second has gone by where you haven’t been on my mind, and today will be no different.”
“Love and miss you beyond words, Pop,” he concluded.
Attached to the tweets were two videos from 1994, both of which showed a young Wolfgang and Ed playing around.
Our thoughts are with Eddie’s family and friends during this difficult time.
