Mark Consuelos has announced that his father, Saul, has passed away. And while Mark and his wife, Kelly Ripa, remember the man who they adored, she has also explained that their children are struggling to deal with the heartwrenching loss.
“The Live with Kelly and Mark co-host revealed the sad news on … Monday, April 6, during an episode of the syndicated talk show, explaining that Saul ‘passed away peacefully’ on March 23 following a long illness,” according to People.
Kelly Called Saul ‘the Greatest Person I’ve Ever Known’
While Mark mourns the loss of his father, he’s not the only one taking time to remember the man who meant so much to the family. Kelly also shared her thoughts about Saul following his passing, saying, per People, that he was “the greatest person I’ve ever known.”
“I can honestly say I will miss him every day for the rest of my life, as I know you will, as our children will,” she said to Mark.
Indeed, Kelly noted that her children — Michael (28), Lola (24) and Joaquin (23) — were struggling with their grandfather’s passing, saying, “This is the first loss they’ve ever experienced in their lives. And I said, ‘By the time I was 8, I had no grandparents. You got to grow up [with grandparents]. You got to have deep, meaningful conversations [with them].'”
Mark Was Able to Say Goodbye to His Father
While Kelly told Mark that he and his siblings are Saul’s “living legacy,” People notes that Mark shared an insight into his father’s nature, saying, “It’s funny, I used to make a joke about my dad — if you asked him what time it was, he would tell you how to build a watch.”
Mark also opened up about the fact that he got an chance to say goodbye to his father before he passed, saying that it occured while he was working on his Broadway show, “Fallen Angels.” He explained, “I knew I had to keep on going. I’ve had such a good time doing [the play]. And I know he’s there watching and he’s able to be part of that.”
Kelly then spoke directly to her husband again, telling him, “You’re the strongest person I know. You continually inspire me every day. All of the good things that I love about you, I loved those same things about your dad. So I just want to say thank you, dad, for everything you gave to us. Everything.”
