Saying Goodbye: A Parent’s Deepest Pain
Bidding farewell is never easy, especially when it involves a child. This heartbreaking reality was one Lisa Marie Presley faced when she endured the unimaginable loss of her only son at a tragically young age.
In her memoir, new revelations have emerged about how Lisa Marie coped in the aftermath of this devastating event. Few knew the steps she and her family took following the funeral of Benjamin Keough.
A Painful Goodbye: The Complex Journey of Grief
For most, funerals symbolize the final farewell to a loved one. But for Lisa Marie Presley, this goodbye was entangled with overwhelming sorrow and struggle. As reported by Page Six, she faced the depths of anguish when her son Benjamin passed away unexpectedly.
The universal sentiment remains that no parent should have to experience the profound sorrow of losing a child—a heartbreak that defies cultural and personal boundaries.
While life typically unfolds with children growing old alongside their parents, the thought of losing a child shatters this natural progression. Even in the depths of despair, some find a hidden strength to navigate their pain and loss.
Lisa Marie encountered this agonizing truth firsthand when she lost Benjamin Keough at 27 to self-inflicted wounds. This tragedy was a devastating echo of her earlier loss—her father, Elvis Presley, who passed away at 42 when she was just nine years old.
Grappling with Loss and Finding Unconventional Paths
These losses came alongside other life struggles, including turbulent relationships and battles with addiction. Yet, nothing compared to the heartbreak of losing Benjamin in 2020.
After his death, Lisa Marie took an unconventional route in dealing with her grief. Rather than proceeding with a burial immediately, she chose to keep Benjamin’s body at home for two months while deliberating on burial sites, weighing options between Graceland and Hawaii.
During this time, she kept the room at a steady 55 degrees Fahrenheit to preserve his body. This decision, though unorthodox, was an intimate expression of her profound love and deep sorrow, as she continued to care for him daily.
Her daughter, Riley, shared memories from this challenging period, including a poignant tribute to Benjamin. In a touching act of remembrance, Lisa and Riley decided to honor him with tattoos. Lisa chose to replicate one of Benjamin’s tattoos exactly, relying on her memory of his inked designs rather than photographs—an act of love that encapsulated her devotion and acceptance amid heartbreak.
Reflecting on their actions, Riley noted, “I think some people might find our story difficult to understand, but my mom was just staying true to herself. There was nothing bizarre about it—it was simply her way of grieving.”
The Enduring Power of Love Through Grief
Grieving is a deeply personal journey, one that varies from person to person yet resonates universally with anyone who has faced such loss. For Lisa Marie Presley and her family, moving forward without Benjamin has been a path paved with pain and profound love.
Their story reminds us that even in the darkest moments, love can create connections that endure beyond loss, providing solace and a way to honor the ones we hold dear.