Oprah Winfrey lost her mother, Vernita Lee, on Thanksgiving in her Milwaukee home. We all how it can be to lose a loved one, Oprah was in an interview with PEOPLE and she shares details about her last moments with her mother. We bring you the juicy details in this article.
Oprah starts by saying she went through a little book she got from hospice which was meant to help with little conversations. Isn’t it shocking that even the great Oprah needs some help with little conversations at times? She went through it anyways as she needed help with what the right words to say to her dying mum.
Oprah said she had gotten a call from her sister, who her mother gave up for adoption in 1963, telling her she felt the end was indeed near for her mother. Oprah had to make it down to Chicago first for the launch of Becoming, Michelle Obama’s new book.
The next day she was on a plane to Milwaukee to surprise her mother. Her visit gladdened Lee’s heart and they had sumptuous lunch together. As they sat together she told her mother that she wasn’t sure she was going to make it. Her mother’s response affirmed her fears and she knew immediately that she had to reach out to all the people she knew cared about her mother, inviting them to say their final farewells before she passed.
Taking it further, Oprah said she showed immense appreciation to her mother for her decision to take care of her even when she had no skills, training or income when she got pregnant as a teenager. As several loved ones came to bid Lee farewell there was so much emotion, Lee literally teared up with each visit.
Oprah said it was a beautiful sight to see her mother and sister sort out their long term issues. In rounding up Oprah said she was indeed grateful to all that reached out to her as she found great solace in the condolences and the beautiful notes sent to her.
Vernita Lee died in her home in Milwaukee on Thanksgiving Day.
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