Eddie Van Halen’s Final Request Revealed

Valerie Bertinelli talked to People about the last moments of her late ex-husband Eddie Van Halen in a very emotional conversation. The great guitar player died on October 6, 2020, after a long fight with cancer. Even though it broke their hearts to lose him, his family did everything they could to make him feel at peace in his last hours.

A Simple Wish: Pizza in the Hospital Room

Bertinelli revealed that one of Eddie’s last requests wasn’t grand—it was simply pizza. She said:

“I forget who suggested it, but we were like, ‘Should we have pizza?’ … Because he couldn’t eat, and the last thing Ed really wanted was pizza.
“He loved pizza and burritos, so we had pizza in his hospital room. I hope people don’t think that’s morbid.”

They knew he couldn’t eat it, but just having it there was a small way to bring him comfort.

His Last Words Were Full of Love

In her memoir Enough Already: Learning to Love the Way I Am Today, Bertinelli also shared Eddie’s final words, spoken to her and their son, Wolfgang (Wolfie).

“‘I love you’ are the last words Ed says to Wolfie and me, and they are the last words we say to him before he stops breathing.”

It was a peaceful and deeply emotional farewell that left a lasting mark on both of them.

From Silence to Shared Stories

After about 20 minutes of silence, something unexpected happened—laughter. “Suddenly, all of us are cracking up,” Bertinelli wrote. “We laugh — and it is so much better than crying.” What began as grief quickly turned into warmth, as the family began remembering the fun, love, and unique moments they shared with Eddie.

Eddie was no longer married to Bertinelli when he died, but they stayed close. They were still very close after 20 years of marriage, with a deep bond of love and respect. Eddie Van Halen died surrounded by love, laughter, and the simple joy of a shared memory. He had one last slice of life and enjoyed it with pizza.