Suzanne Somers was laid to rest wearing Timberland boots, and her husband has since revealed the touching reason why.
As previously reported, the news of Somers' passing was conveyed by her publicist, R. Couri Hay, on behalf of the family.
In a heartfelt statement, Hay shared with PEOPLE: "Suzanne Somers passed away peacefully at home in the early morning hours of October 15th. She survived an aggressive form of breast cancer for over 23 years."
"Suzanne was surrounded by her loving husband Alan, her son Bruce, and her immediate family," the statement continued. "Her family was gathered to celebrate her 77th birthday on October 16th. Instead, they will celebrate her extraordinary life, and want to thank her millions of fans and followers who loved her dearly."
Reflecting on Somers' final moments, Hay described the house she spent them in as "one of her dreams," emphasizing her ongoing engagement in various plans and aspirations.
Her immediate cause of death was documented as "breast cancer with metastasis to the brain," with underlying conditions of hypertension and hydrocephalus.
There was both a private and public service for people to pay their respects to Somers, and her husband Alan Hamel has since revealed that she was laid to rest wearing Timberland boots.
"Suzanne never really had boots designed for hiking on the rocks, so I ordered the Timberland boots,” shared Hamel, 87, exclusively with PEOPLE.
He personalized the gift by adding a touch of their shared history. “[I] made my gift personal by drawing on them in a few words that represented our life to some degree and made them very personal to Suzanne," explained Hamel.
He disclosed that although his late wife possessed "every Manolo Blahnik ever made," it would have been too predictable to have her wear them for her final journey.
“Every time she put on the Timberlands, she said, ‘I am wearing you, and my boots will keep me safe,’” revealed Hamel.
Sharing a glimpse into the couple's routine, the Canadian entertainer said that their "early morning routine" involved Somers' signature boots. For over five decades, the couple resided near mountains in both Malibu and Palm Springs.
Their routine always included hiking to the top of one of the mountains, enjoying lunch on a warm rock in the middle of a creek, and then taking a nap before heading back down. It was a tradition that held a special place in their hearts.
At the time of Suzanne Somers' death, she was surrounded by Hamel, her son Bruce, and other immediate family members.
