The grieving family of actress Olivia Newton-John will be offered a state funeral after the actress lost her battle against cancer.
Newton-John, who rose to fame after playing Sandy in the 1978 film Grease, passed away at the age of 73 in her Southern California home.
On Tuesday, Victorian Premier Daniel Andrews said that he will contact the family and offer the memorial.
“As for celebrating her life, her music and film and all the other amazing contributions that she made, we would, of course, want to speak to the family and be as respectful as we can,” Andrews said.
“She took her cancer journey and used that to save lives and change lives, and that’s just a deeply impressive thing.
“The research that’s done there (at the cancer and wellness center), the treatment, the care, the love and support that is central to that place is a lasting legacy to the person that she was.”
Newton-John died peacefully surrounded by her family and friends after a lengthy battle with breast cancer.
Her heartbroken husband John Easterling announced her death on Facebook, writing: “Dame Olivia Newton-John (73) passed away peacefully at her Ranch in Southern California this morning, surrounded by family and friends.
“We ask that everyone please respect the family’s privacy during this very difficult time.
“Olivia has been a symbol of triumphs and hope for over 30 years sharing her journey with breast cancer.”
Easterling also revealed that his wife’s final wish is for people to make donations to her charity, the Olivia Newton-John Foundation Fund, which funds research into holistic treatments and plant-based medicine for cancer.
The actress was first diagnosed with cancer in 1992 but it returned in 2013 and 2017. Easterling grew medicinal cannabis for her on their U.S. ranch to “help with her symptoms.”
Olivia previously said of the ‘healing plant’: “Medicinal cannabis is something that should be available to everyone who is going through a chronic illness or pain. It really is a magical miracle plant.”
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