Last week, we reported that Wayne Osmond of the legendary singing Osmond family had passed away at 73 after suffering a stroke. Now, his younger sister Marie Osmond has broken her silence to publicly address his death for the first time.
Marie Honors Wayne After His Death
“I’m so grateful that just a few weeks ago, I was able to take a long drive to spend time with my brother Wayne,” Marie, 65, wrote in a lengthy Instagram post alongside a photo of herself with Wayne. “I really felt the Spirit compel me to go see him, and I’m so thankful I listened to what I was feeling. I will cherish those hours I spent with him for the rest of my life. I didn’t know that just a few days after my visit, he would have a massive stroke.”
Marie went on to say that she had not spoken out publicly about Wayne’s death until now because “it’s just too hard to put into words, but I will try my best to honor one of the most loving men I have ever known.”
“There’s no question that Wayne had a long and successful career as an entertainer, musician, and songwriter,” she continued. “But what stands out to me as his sister were the joy-filled, humorous times I spent laughing with him and our deep intellectual conversations that left me edified. He was always my safe place to go when I needed advice.”
Wayne’s Faith In God
Later in the post, Marie talked about her older brother’s strong faith in God.
“I admired him, too, for his deep love and unwavering devotion to God our Father and His Son, our Savior, Jesus Christ,” she gushed. “Throughout his life, Wayne was an honorable member of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. It was his eternal compass, and he was a light to others as he testified of God’s great plan for us in this life. If you can, listen to one of his favorite albums that my brothers wrote ‘The Plan.’”
Marie concluded her post with a message directly to her brother.
“Wayne, I could not cherish the gift God gave me more than to be loved by you in this life! You are a true, loving brother, and I will miss you so very much,” Marie wrote. “I testify eternally of my great love for you with every fiber of my heart and soul! #TillWeMeetAgain.”
Backstory: Wayne Osmond, Brother Of Donny And Marie, Passes Away At 73
Wayne’s Death – Donny Speaks Out
Wayne and Marie are two of the nine Osmond siblings. Marie is the only girl, while their other brothers are Virl, Tom, Alan, Merrill, Jay, Jimmy, and Donny. The Osmond family announced Wayne’s death last Thursday, saying that he died on New Year’s Day.
“Wayne Osmond, beloved husband and father, passed away peacefully last night surrounded by his loving wife and five children,” they said in a statement. “His legacy of faith, music, love, and laughter have influenced the lives of many people around the world.”
Wayne’s younger brother Donny soon released a statement of his own about his death.
“My dear brother Wayne passed away peacefully last night from a stroke,” Donny, 67, wrote on Instagram. “I’m so grateful that I had the opportunity to visit him in the hospital before he passed. Wayne brought so much light, laughter, and love to everyone who knew him, especially me. He was the ultimate optimist and was loved by everyone.
“I’m sure I speak on behalf of every one of us siblings when I state that we were fortunate to have Wayne as a brother,” he continued. “Even though we are separated in this mortal life, I know that by the grace and resurrection of our Savior, Jesus Christ, we will have the opportunity to be with Wayne for eternity. I love you, Wayne.”
Related: Marie Osmond Reveals Why She Won’t Be Leaving Her 8 Children Any Money
Wayne’s History
Wayne was the fourth oldest of the nine children in the Mormon Osmond family. In 1958, he formed a barbershop quartet with his older brother Alan and younger brothers Merrill and Jay. They were discovered at Disneyland in 1961, and they soon became regulars on The Andy Williams Show. Donny and Jimmy would later join the band along with Marie.
The Osmonds scored their biggest hit in 1971 with their song “One Bad Apple,” which sat five weeks at No. 1 on the Billboard 100. They would go their separate ways soon thereafter, with Donny and Marie becoming an incredibly popular singing duo.
Wayne married the former pageant queen Kathlyn White in 1974, and they would go on to have five children. In the 1980s, Wayne regrouped with his brothers Alan, Merrill, and Jay as a country music band. They had a string of hits, including “I Think About Your Lovin.’”
This is clearly a very difficult time for the entire Osmond family. Please join us in saying a prayer for them as they mourn their beloved Wayne.
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