The Important Moments After Prince’s Death Explored

On April 23, 2016, smoke began to rise from the crematorium at the First Memorial Waterston Chapel in Minneapolis, Minnesota. As reported by RadarOnline, this was no ordinary cremation. Inside, the body of music icon Prince, known for his extraordinary talents as a singer, songwriter, producer, and guitarist, was being turned to ash just two days after his sudden death at the age of 57. The four-hour service was attended by Prince’s younger sister, Tyka Nelson, and other close family members and friends, who gathered to bid their final farewells to the Rock & Roll Hall of Famer and multi-Grammy Award winner.

Tyka Nelson believed that Prince had a sense that his end was near. She revealed on the U.K. talk show Lorraine that three years before his passing, Prince had told her during a phone conversation, “I think I’ve done everything I’ve come to do.” Before his cremation, Prince’s family retrieved his body from the Midwest Medical Examiner’s Office, where an autopsy had been conducted. Although the exact cause of death was initially unknown, the toxicology report later confirmed it was due to an accidental overdose.

The Final Moments of Prince

On the morning of April 21, 2016, tragedy struck at Prince’s Paisley Park estate in Chanhassen, Minnesota. The artist was found unresponsive in an elevator after overdosing on counterfeit pills that he thought were Vicodin but was laced with fentanyl. This overdose proved fatal. Prince had been quietly battling chronic pain from years of high-energy performances, which included jumps and splits on stage. Sheila E., a fellow musician and former girlfriend, told Entertainment Tonight that “He was in pain all the time, but he was a performer.” He had undergone hip replacement surgery in 2010, suffered from walking pneumonia, and was reportedly overusing prescription medications.

When emergency responders arrived at Paisley Park around 9:45 a.m., they found Prince dressed entirely in black. Despite their efforts, they were unable to revive him, and he was pronounced dead about 25 minutes later. The media swiftly followed, arriving outside his studio as news of his death spread. His body, weighing just 112 pounds, was taken to the Midwest Medical Examiner’s Office for an autopsy. It took six weeks for the toxicology report to confirm that Prince had died from an accidental overdose of fentanyl.

Prince’s Legacy at Paisley Park

Today, Prince’s ashes rest in the place where he passed away—Paisley Park, which was transformed into a museum in October 2016 to honor his legacy. Initially, his ashes were on display in a specially designed urn created by his sister, Tyka, and his nephew, President Nelson. The urn is a 14-inch-tall glass and ceramic replica of Paisley Park, featuring his iconic symbol and even a miniature piano inside. Prince’s ashes are sealed in the front part of this unique memorial.

Originally displayed in the center of Paisley Park’s grand atrium, the urn was removed from public view in 2019 after three years. Omarr Baker, Prince’s brother, remarked to the Star Tribune, “Three years is enough time to mourn. There’s a season for everything.” This decision was met with mixed reactions, as some fans and family members felt disappointed. However, in 2021, on the fifth anniversary of Prince’s death, the urn made a temporary return for public viewing. Whether it will be displayed again remains uncertain.