"Even now as her soul soars, the pain and holes in my heart are healed with the joy of her love and the light that shines forward."
John Easterling has expressed his feelings for his late wife Olivia Newton-John, who died of breast cancer on Monday. After a long battle with the disease, Newton-John passed surrounded by family in her Southern California home. Easterling paid his honors to his wife by remembering their love and her character in an emotional tribute on Newton-John's Instagram page.
In the touching post, Easterling characterized their life and relationship together as a love that was effortless.
"Olivia, our love for each other transcends our understanding. Every day we expressed our gratitude for this love that could be so deep, so real, so natural. We never had to 'work' on it. We were in awe of this great mystery and accepted the experience of our love as past, present and forever," Easterling wrote.
He continued his tribute and wrote, "At Olivia's deepest essence she was a healer using her mediums of song, of words, of touch. She was the most courageous woman I've ever known. Her bandwidth for genuinely caring for people, for nature and all creatures almost eclipses what is humanely possible."
"It is only the grace of God that has allowed me to share the depth and passion of her being for so long. In her most difficult times, she always had the spirit, the humor, and the willpower to move things into the light."
He concluded, "Even now as her soul soars, the pain and holes in my heart are healed with the joy of her love and the light that shines forward. Our family deeply appreciates the vast ocean of love and support that has come our way." He signed off the post with, "Onward Ho, John Easterling."
Easterling announced her death on Instagram earlier, in an equally moving post.
"Olivia has been a symbol of triumphs and hope for over 30 years sharing her journey with breast cancer," his statement read. "Her healing inspiration and pioneering experience with plant medicine continue with the Olivia Newton-John Foundation Fund, dedicated to researching plant medicine and cancer. In lieu of flowers, the family asks that any donations be made in her memory to the @onjfoundation."
The Grease star and Easterling married in June 2008, after meeting through a mutual acquaintance in the early 1990s, per People. The pair tied the knot twice: first, they eloped on a mountainside outside of Peru in an Incan spiritual ceremony, and then they came to Florida and said "I do" again on the beach in a ceremony with their friends and family.
Easterling, a natural-health entrepreneur, highlighted Newton-John's passion for spirituality and holistic healing. In addition, following her breast cancer diagnosis, he stayed by her side at countless fundraisers and cancer walks. They even collaborated to establish the Olivia Newton-John Foundation Fund in 2020 to continue funding research into plant therapy for cancer.
References:
https://www.instagram.com/p/ChFqQeQvBVd/
Cover Image Source: Getty Images | Andreas Rentz
