The passing of actress Shannen Doherty resonated deeply with many. Upon hearing the heartbreaking news, social media platforms and entertainment websites overflowed with tributes from friends, fans, and nostalgic followers mourning her loss after a prolonged battle with cancer.
In her final months, Doherty forged an even closer bond with her audience, thanks to her prominent appearances at fan conventions and her candid podcast, "Let's Be Clear." There, she spoke openly and bravely about personal issues, especially her fight against the disease and her thoughts on mortality. Tragically, she had recently expressed newfound optimism due to emerging treatment options that might have offered hope.
She also shared her unconventional wishes for her funeral in one of the podcast episodes: "I don't want to be buried," she clarified, adding, "I want my remains to be mixed with those of my dog and my father." She envisioned her loved ones scattering her ashes in "various beautiful ways," suggesting locations like Malibu, where she and her father cherished their time together, or even using her remains to nurture a growing tree.
Doherty’s beloved dog, Bowie, still survives, and it remains uncertain who among her close circle will adopt her. Doherty had previously shared that Bowie was the first to detect the return of her cancer: "She obsessively sniffed my right side, so when I was diagnosed, it made sense."
Regarding her funeral, Doherty was adamant about excluding those who were not genuinely close to her, even inferring a short guest list: "I think many people will show up whom I don't want there, people whose reasons for attending aren't sincere. They don't truly love me; they have their own agendas. They'll come because it's expected, not because they genuinely cared. So, I'd rather relieve them of that burden. I want my funeral to be a celebration of love. I don't want people crying while thinking, 'Thank God that bitch is dead.'"
Additionally, Doherty revealed she was in the process of decluttering, parting with unnecessary or emotionally void possessions to ease the burden on her loved ones after her passing: "I don't enjoy them, others don't use them, and do I really need this? Do I really need three dining tables? The answer is no. None of us truly need all the things we have, and we can all downsize a bit and not hoard, which is what I did with all my furniture."
She continued, "It's the right thing to do. It brings comfort knowing you're helping those you leave behind to cope in a simpler, cleaner way."
In another podcast episode, she reflected on the past and some regrets, primarily her unfulfilled wish to become a mother. Before her cancer's return, she and her husband had been trying to conceive: "I wanted a child not just for myself but also for my husband and our marriage. I wanted him to experience that part of life."
She revealed she had undergone several rounds of IVF, which were unsuccessful, and ultimately had to cease due to her health condition. Tragically, in the period leading up to her death, Doherty and her husband, Kurt Iswarienko, were embroiled in a bitter divorce. She accused him of delaying the proceedings, hoping she would pass away so he wouldn't have to pay alimony—a grim reality that ultimately came to pass.
So long, Brenda Walsh!
First published: 18:57, 07.15.24