In a video shown at one of Suzanne Somers’ recent memorial services, the late actress gave a final performance to those who knew her best.
The video, shared exclusively with PEOPLE, shows Somers, who died at age 76 on Oct. 15 after breast cancer spread to her brain, speaking and performing a moving rendition of Leon Russell’s 1970 classic, “A Song for You “.
“It took me two weeks to practice this song before I could sing it without crying,” Somers said in the recording. “It reminds me of that wonderful quote, ‘Music is what feelings sound like.’ ”
Somers’ husband, Alan Hamel, told PEOPLE that it was fitting to close the family’s memory of Somers with a video of her singing. “There wasn’t a dry eye in the room,” Hamel said.
The family of Suzanne Somers is celebrating her 77th birthday the day after her death
Hamel explained the significance of “Song for You”, calling it “our song”.
“Suzanne used to sing it to me every night on stage in Las Vegas,” Hamel added. “Whenever she sang, Suzanne cried, I cried, and so did every person in the audience.”
The song, made famous in 1971 by versions by Andy Williams and Donny Hathaway, was written as an address to an ex-partner, asking for forgiveness and understanding.
Alan Hamel and Suzanne Somers in 2015.
Gabe Ginsberg/FilmMagic
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Somers’ memorials on Nov. 30 in Palm Desert, California, and Dec. 10 in her hometown of San Bruno featured tributes and videos of Somers singing, as well as montages of her career and family, according to their granddaughter Ziane Hamel.
The Nov. 30 memorial — a “Tequila & Tributes”-themed celebration with guests in colorful cocktail attire “in true Suzanne fashion” — was planned by Somers’ son, Bruce Somers Jr. and her daughter-in-law Caroline Somers.
Bruce was the emcee for the evening and led the guests through an hour-long program filled with montages Three’s Company star career, family toasts and other performances.
In this exclusive video, Bruce talked about his mother’s “secret power” to make anyone and everyone feel “as loved as we all need to be.” Bruce said: “Everyone here knows my mum as Suzanne Somers, but the reality for me is that she wasn’t Suzanne Somers, she’s just my mum.”
“I’m the luckiest man on Earth… I got the most amazing mother, who taught me how to love, how to love others, love myself, have compassion, have empathy and be kind – be good to everyone,” Bruce continued.
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“Alan was incredibly outgoing and welcoming,” Somers’ publicist R. Couri Hay told PEOPLE about the event. “It was a beautiful and extremely authentic evening filled with personal memories, song and of course videos of Suzanne singing her heart out and stopping her heart. Vegas and talking to the audience. It was so touching and heartfelt.”
Alan told PEOPLE exclusively at the time, “Suzanne loved cocktail parties and we threw her a great cocktail party at the Stone Eagle Club in Palm Desert.”
Somers died just one day before her 77th birthday.
“Suzanne Somers passed away peacefully at home in the early morning hours of October 15th. She survived an aggressive form of breast cancer for over 23 years,” Hay wrote in a statement he shared at the time on behalf of the actress’ family.
“Suzanne was surrounded by her loving husband Alan, son Bruce and her immediate family,” the statement continued. “Her family gathered to celebrate her 77th birthday on October 16. Instead, they will celebrate her extraordinary life and want to thank her millions of fans and followers who loved her dearly.”
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