Jimmy Buffett’s Wife Finally Breaks Silence Following Her Husband’s Death

Jimmy Buffett’s wife, Jane Slagsvol, recently broke her silence following the death of her husband from Merkel-cell carcinoma earlier this month at the age of 76. Jane took to his Instagram page to pay tribute to the legend.

“Jimmy was love. Every cell in his body was filled with joy. He smiled all the time, even when he was deeply ill. And his sense of humor never wavered. Jimmy was always the optimist, always twinkling, always making us laugh,” she wrote. “To my family. I cannot begin to express what you mean to me and Jimmy. I cherish you, I love you, and I am unfathomably grateful to you every day. You are my heart.”

Jane Slagsvol pays tribute to her late husband, Jimmy Buffett

Jane shared that even though Buffet’s health challenges were overwhelming, they enjoyed enormous support from people.

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“As Jimmy said a few months ago, ‘Growing old is not for sissies.’ These last few years have been unimaginably challenging for Jimmy and me, and we’re definitely not sissies,” she wrote. “One thing we both knew and experienced, through every difficult moment, was the feeling of being buoyed up by all the people in our lives. Everywhere we went, at arenas, at events, and even in the hospitals, we were surrounded by love.”

She appreciates his fans and medical professionals

Jane also took time out to appreciate Buffett’s fans for their outpouring of love and support. “There is a whole world of people I want to thank for the incredible kindness you showed us,” she wrote in the message. “Since those early days and all through the decades, Jimmy’s fans became a big, boisterous family. Thank you for creating the world’s most joyful community. The smile that Jimmy beamed at you from the stage was sparked by your spirit. I think that’s why he loved performing so much. He was so grateful to the community you built around him. Your sympathy and support inspire and comfort me and my family.”

The 72-year-old rounded off her tribute with a special thanks to the medical team that took care of her late husband. “To the teams of doctors, nurses, hospice workers, and caregivers, your compassion was overwhelming in the best possible way. Jimmy listened to everything you said and followed your every order,” she added. “You gave him hope, even at the most hopeless moments. Thank you for your tenacity in seeking the best solutions at each stage of his illness. You were honest, brave, and empathic; you showed us such dignity and goodness. I could not have asked for a better team of professionals.”