Lourdes pilgrims offer prayers as Engelbert Humperdinck loses wife to Covid

image: ICN/JS

When Engelbert Humperdinck's wife Patricia died in Los Angeles on 5 February after contracting Covid-19, he shared on Instagram that the family had prayed with her and blessed her with water from Lourdes. In a beautiful reflection, the singer, 84, said she "slipped away" after suffering with Alzheimer's disease for more than a decade.

The family has been linked with Lourdes since the early 1980s, when his daughter Louise Dorsey joined the Easter pilgrimage of HCPT for several years. She started while still at school in England but continued after relocating to California. One year, her brother Scott went too.

Phil Sparke, Chief Executive of HCPT, said today: "we were very sad to learn of the death of Patricia last Friday." He added: "I have written to the family to express the condolences of the HCPT family, and Patricia and the family will be included with all our prayer intentions at Mass this Sunday by HCPT's Trust Chaplain."

The legendary Catholic singer Engelbert Humperdinck (born Arnold George Dorsey) had asked for prayers as his wife battled Covid. The singer said his family prayed at 8pm every night for her, the rest of their family, and "for those unfortunate ones who have been afflicted with this terrible plague around the world."

See the full text of Engelbert Humperdinck's Instagram post:

Friends,
Please forgive the silence, after the unbelievable response to our plea for prayers.
Our family is heartbroken over the loss of my darling wife.
Last night she slipped softly away, as if by God's clockwork.
The last rites were given just before our usual prayers at the 8pm hour, by our nephew, Father Paul. It was 4am for him.
We were so grateful to have him gently lead Popea through this last chapter, with a familiar voice and such love.

She was surrounded by our children, Louise, Jason, Brad, with Scott on FaceTime.
Her longtime caregivers lovingly helped make her transition easier on us all.
Her earthly limitations no longer hold her down as she is freely running the glorious gardens of Heaven, reunited with so many loved ones. We prayed as a family, blessed her with the water from Lourdes and off she went... ushered into the arms of Jesus with help from the generous heart filled prayers from all around the world.

I thank those who reached out in what we now know were her final days, and sent energy, love and words of deep connection to a loving God. He will be the ultimate
Caregiver of peace and love.

Patricia's battle with Alzheimers was brave from the very beginning.
She never resisted as we tried to leave no stone unturned.

We love you beyond words, forever and always. It is slipping now into the minutes of a full day without you.

Goodnight my baby.

Engelbert Humperdinck has been described as "one of the finest middle-of-the-road balladeers around." His singles "Release Me" and "The Last Waltz" both topped the UK music charts in 1967, and sold more than a million copies each. In North America, he also had many chart successes with "After the Lovin'" (1976) and "This Moment in Time" (1979). Overall he has sold more than 140 million records worldwide.

LINKS

Englebert Humperdinck sings the Last Waltz - www.youtube.com/watch?v=PSdRurbowZs

Englebert Humperdinck Instagram - www.instagram.com/thisisengelberthumperdinck/?hl=en