Wayne Osmond died on January 1, 2025, after a “massive stroke,” his brother Merrill Osmond announced in a Facebook post on January 2, 2025. He was 73.
“His departure from this earth will be a sad moment for some, but for those who are waiting for him on the other side, there will be a massive celebration beyond anything we can imagine,” Merrill wrote in a loving statement. And Wayne ultimately received the final send-off and celebration he had wanted.
Donny Osmond Shares a Touching Story About Wayne’s Funeral
“Dancing with the Stars” alum Donny Osmond, who competed on and won Season 9 alongside professional dance partner Kym Johnson, has made a touching tribute for his brother on August 28, on what would have been his 74th birthday.
“My brother Wayne hated funerals,” Donny said in a clip, which he shared on Instagram. “He said to his family, ‘When I die, I don’t want a funeral, I want a party. Please throw me a party.’”
Donny then told a story about Wayne’s send-off. “After the funeral, the hearse is traveling down the freeway to the grave site,” he told a crowd. “Earlier that day in Ogden, Utah, which is where he was buried, [someone was] having a party, and they released balloons in the air. These balloons came down on the freeway, and happened to be in the lane that the hearse was traveling in.”
He continued, “The hearse is traveling down the freeway with balloons on the bumper. And it gets better: The hearse pulls off the freeway, pulls into the grave site, and as it pulls in, the balloons release.”
It’s a beautiful story and a cherished memory for the family. “Wayne, I’ll be looking out for more balloons today. Happy birthday,” Donny captioned the post.
Fans of the Osmond Brothers Show Support
Fans showed their love for Donny and Wayne in the comment section of the post. “Happy heavenly birthday Wayne. I love this story. You know it was no coincidence,” a fan wrote. “I guess Wayne ‘made’ his own party that day,” another person shared.
“Beautiful story it’s exactly what Wayne wanted,” a third commenter wrote.
Other reactions include, “Aw! Wayne got his party! I saw the memorial, you guys kept it light, it was beautiful!” and “This is an amazing story. Thanks for sharing it with us. I’m glad Wayne got his party!”
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