Saying farewell is never a simple task, particularly when it involves a child. This was the reality for Lisa Marie Presley, who faced an unimaginable loss with the passing of her only son at a young age.
In her memoir, new insights have surfaced about her actions following this tragic event. Many were unaware of how Lisa Marie and her family coped after the funeral of Benjamin Keough.
A Final Farewell: The Complexity of Grieving
Funerals are often seen as the ultimate goodbye to those we love. However, for Lisa Marie Presley, this farewell was fraught with emotional turmoil. As reported by Page Six, she found herself grappling with profound grief when Benjamin died unexpectedly.
The consensus among many is that no parent should ever have to endure the heartache of burying their child—a sentiment that transcends various beliefs and backgrounds.
Life’s natural progression suggests that we grow older alongside our parents; however, contemplating the loss of a child is something no parent wishes to face. Even in moments filled with sorrow, individuals often discover an inner resilience to navigate through their pain.
Lisa Marie experienced this harrowing reality just a few years ago when she lost Benjamin Keough at 27 due to self-inflicted injuries—a tragedy compounded by her own history of loss; she had previously said goodbye to her father Elvis Presley at just nine years old when he passed away at 42.
Following these losses came challenges including tumultuous relationships and struggles with addiction. Yet nothing compared to the devastation she felt in 2020 after losing Benjamin.
Reflecting on Loss: A Unique Approach
In reflecting on life after Benjamin’s death, Lisa Marie shared some deeply personal choices during that time. Struggling with how best to honor his memory led her down an unconventional path—she chose not to bury him immediately but instead kept his body at home for two months while deciding between burial sites in Graceland or Hawaii.
To preserve his body during this period, she maintained a room temperature of 55 degrees Fahrenheit and became accustomed to caring for him daily—a testament to both love and grief intertwined in complex ways.
Her daughter Riley also recounted moments from this challenging time together—one particularly poignant instance involved commemorating Benjamin through tattoos. In an effort to feel closer to him, Lisa decided on replicating one of his tattoos exactly as it appeared on him. When asked by the tattoo artist for reference images of Benjamin’s inked designs, Lisa offered instead simply showing them directly from memory—an act illustrating both devotion and surreal acceptance amidst sorrow.
“I think people might find our story hard to believe,” Riley remarked later about their experiences during such trying times. “But my mom was just being true to herself; there was nothing crazy about it.”
Conclusion: The Enduring Impact of Love
The journey through grief can take many forms—each unique yet universally understood among those who have faced similar losses. For Lisa Marie Presley and her family, navigating life without Benjamin has been marked by profound love interwoven with heartache—a reminder that even amid darkness can emerge moments reflecting deep connection and remembrance.
