Suzanne Somers’ Husband Reveals Why She Was Laid to Rest Wearing Timberland Boots

Suzanne Somers’ husband, Alan Hamel, shares that he is Three’s Company the star was laid to rest in a pair of unexpected shoes.

“Suzanne never really had boots designed for rock climbing, so I ordered Timberland boots,” Hamel, 87, tells PEOPLE exclusively.

“[I] “I made my gift personal by drawing them in a few words that somewhat represented our lives and made them very personal to Suzanne,” explains Hamel.

Suzanne died on October 15 of breast cancer. The TV host reveals that his late wife had “every manolo blahnik ever made” but “it would be predictable but not very personal” if Suzanne “wears [manolo blahniks] for her last journey.”

“Every time she put on her Timberlands, she said, ‘I carry you, and my boots will protect me.'”

Suzanne Somers’ Family & Loved Ones Gather for ‘Tequila & Tributes’ Celebration (Exclusive)

Alan Hamel and Suzanne Somers 2009.

Jason Merritt/Getty

The Canadian entertainer shares with PEOPLE that the couple developed an “early morning routine” that required Somers’ boot. For more than 50 years, the couple lived by the mountains in Malibu and Palm Springs.

David Livingston/Getty

Their routine “always involved a hike to the top of one of the mountains, where there was a stream and a big flat rock in the middle of the stream.”

“By the time we got there, which was about a two-hour hike, the rock was warmed by the morning sun,” says Hamel. “We’d have lunch on the rock, then take an hour nap on the rock, then come back down and go to work.”

Tributes pour in for Suzanne Somers after actress’ death at 76: ‘Most glamorous person I’ve ever met’

Suzanne Somers and Alan Hamel in 1980.

Harry Langdon/Getty

At the time of Three’s Company After the actress’ death, she was surrounded by Hamel, her son Bruce and other close family members.

The actress died a day before her 77th birthday. Several family members gathered to celebrate her birthday while others drove for the day. But after her death, they decided to mark the day in a different way, Hamel told PEOPLE.

“We actually had a toast last night,” Hamel recalled. “There were, I think, 12 of us here and we were all toasting Suzanne. I’m sure we’re going to do something today. I don’t know what it’s going to be, but it’s going to involve a lot of cake, because Suzanne was crazy about cake.”

Suzanne Somers’ family opens up about first Thanksgiving since her death: ‘None of us can imagine it’ (Exclusive)

Never miss a story — sign up for PEOPLE’s free daily newsletter to stay up-to-date on the best PEOPLE has to offer, from juicy celebrity news to compelling human interest stories.

Suzanne Somers and Alan Hamel in 2016.

Jim Smeal/Shutterstock

Somers’ family celebrated her life and legacy on Nov. 30, when the actress’ closest friends and family gathered to “celebrate Suzanne’s incredible life” and her illustrious Hollywood career.

A second memorial service will be held in Somers’ hometown of San Bruno, California this week, and the family will release parts of the celebration later this month.

Categories: Trends
Source: HIS Education