Rhianna Benson
Warning: This article contains discussion of cancer which some readers may find distressing.
US actress Shannen Doherty opened up about her funeral plans prior to her heartbreaking death at the weekend (13 July).
The Beverley Hills, 90120 star was first diagnosed with cancer back in 2015, and had since been diagnosed with various forms of the vicious disease, famously opening up about her ailing health on her popular podcast, Let's Be Clear.
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In 2017, the TV star underwent surgery and treatment before her cancer thankfully went into remission, though her celebration was sadly short-lived, and three years later she announced that the illness had returned and reached stage four after spreading to her brain and her bones.
Since then, the actress approached the subject of her own passing with astounding levels of bravery.
Speaking to People magazine last year, she admitted: "I'm not afraid of death because I know where I'm going.
"I know the people that I'm going to see. I think I would be afraid of death if I wasn't a good person, but I am."
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She continued: "I don't want to die - that's the difference. I'm not afraid of dying, I just don't want to die, like ever."
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As well as mentally preparing for the end of her life, Shannen also considered many of the practicalities of funeral arrangements before she died - particularly with regards to who she'd like to attend her final send-off - hoping it would assist her loved ones to be clear about her final wishes.
In an episode of her podcast released in January, she told listeners she had a list of who she wanted to prohibit from her funeral.
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"There’s a lot of people that I think would show up that I don’t want there. I don’t want them there because their reasons for showing up aren’t necessarily the best reasons," she explained.
"Like, they don’t really like me and, you know, they have their reasons and good for them, but they don’t actually really like me enough to show up to my funeral."
Shannen also spoke of the importance of her funeral attendees not feeling 'pressured' to turn up.
She said: "[They’ll show up] because it’s the politically correct thing to do, and they don’t want to look bad, so I kinda want to take the pressure off them and I want my funeral to be like a love fest.
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"I don’t want people to be crying or people to privately be like, 'Thank God that b***h is dead now'."
Shannen's passing was announced by her publicist Leslie Sloan on Sunday (14 July), with the agent revealing the sad news that she'd 'lost her battle with cancer'.
An emotional statement released to People read: "It is with a heavy heart that I confirm the passing of actress Shannen Doherty.
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"On Saturday, July 13, she lost her battle with cancer after many years of fighting the disease. The devoted daughter, sister, aunt and friend was surrounded by her loved ones as well as her dog, Bowie.
"The family asks for their privacy at this time so they can grieve in peace."
If you’ve been affected by any of these issues and want to speak to someone in confidence, contact Macmillan’s Cancer Support Line on 0808 808 00 00, 8am–8pm seven days a week.