The world bid farewell to a beloved icon who had battled with cancer for more than two decades in the early hours of October 15, 2023. Suzanne Somers, best known for her role in “Three’s Company,” passed away on the eve of her 77th birthday at her home in Palm Springs, California.

Somers was not alone in her final moments as she held hands with her husband, Alan Hamel, a constant presence in her life for over half a century. Hamel shared that his wife, a well-known advocate of holistic medicine, explored every possible treatment after her breast cancer returned earlier that year.

The couple had often discussed their mortality, aware that their time together was finite. Being ten years older, Hamel had always assumed he would be the first to go. The thought of Somers alone was a problem he found hard to bear. Yet, cancer, with its unpredictable nature, had other plans. The grieving Hamel said, “Cancer is ugly. It’s an epidemic.”

Somers’ was experiencing other health challenges in the days before her passing. In 2020, both she and Hamel suffered a fall down the stairs at their home. The accident resulted in a broken neck for Somers, a painful injury that required seven weeks of physical therapy in a Chicago clinic.

According to R. Couri Hay, Somers’ long-time representative, she never fully recovered from this incident. The cancer, already weakening her bones, only compounded the effects of the fall. But even in her weak state, Somers remained determined to celebrate her upcoming birthday at home with her family.

Her family members, including her son Bruce Somers, daughter Leslie, and daughter-in-law Caroline, had arrived to celebrate her birthday. Somers, fond of red velvet cupcakes, had hoped to enjoy her favorite treat on her special day. But by the time her family arrived, Somers was battling her illness with every ounce of strength she had left.

She continued to fight, utilizing every form of medicine available to her. In the end, she passed away peacefully. Following her diagnosis in 2000, Somers decided to forgo chemotherapy, opting instead for surgery and radiation. She embraced an organic diet and consciously tried to reduce her exposure to chemicals.

This approach to her health indicated her larger philosophy on life and wellness. Instead of celebrating her birthday as planned, her family commemorated her life and legacy. They gathered not to mourn the missed birthday but to honor the remarkable woman whose spirit had touched many lives.

Days after Somers’ passing, Hamel said he experienced a vision of his wife, a comforting presence in the quiet of the night. Half-asleep and alone in bed, he reached for her hand and saw her looking at him. “It felt like she was there,” Hamel recounted. In a unique tribute to their love story, he buried his wife in a pair of Timberland boots he had purchased and customized for her.

These boots bore heartfelt handwritten notes and drawings, a testament to their shared life and love. The left boot had the phrase “in love forever” inscribed in red block letters and a sketch reminiscent of Picasso’s style depicting a man and a woman.

The right boot bore the words “we are one,” along with an arrow pointing to a sketch of red lines emanating from a black and blue spiral. This pair of boots, a symbol of their bond, was a source of comfort for Somers. Whenever she wore these boots, she would say, “I am wearing you, and my boots will keep me safe.”

For nearly half a century, the couple resided near the mountains in Malibu and Palm Springs, where they had developed a routine of early morning hikes to a creek with a large flat rock in the middle. This serene spot had special significance for them.

In 1977, the couple sought an escape from their home in Venice, California, and the relentless pursuit of the paparazzi. They found their sanctuary in a unique desert hideaway. Despite Hamel’s plea for her to adopt a poker face during the purchase, Somers’ excitement was palpable, and they ended up paying more than the asking price.

After owning their home for forty years, Somers let it go in May 2021. The property, which she had expanded and renovated over the years, was listed for $8.5 million. It hit the market again two years later, in May 2023, for $12.9 million. Somers admitted that the decision to sell was not just a physical one but also emotional and spiritual.

The home, with its five villas and over 100 stairs, was no longer the right fit for them. As they embarked on their next journey, Hamel expressed their intention to make their new home as green as possible. They planned to ensure balanced and perfect air quality, use chemical-free drywall, install solar power, and set up an organic garden, among other eco-friendly features.

Though the new home offered less space for visiting family members, Somers envisioned it as a lively and attractive gathering place. One of the unique features they planned to recreate from their past was a “passion pit,” a carpeted area in front of a fireplace, reminiscent of the one they had on an old houseboat where their love story began in the ’60s.

In the days following Somers’ passing, Hamel began to experience a series of unusual occurrences in their Palm Springs home. He recounts three strange events that happened on the same day. One of the incidences was a hummingbird that flew into their house, making its rounds in the kitchen, living room, and dining room.

It then hovered in front of a framed picture of the couple in their breakfast nook, even landing on top and staying there for a while. Following this, the fireplace started all by itself, and music from Somer’s favorite composer, although obscure, filled the room. After these experiences, Hamel says, “I’m a believer now that there is an afterlife.”

Hamel believes that a realm exists beyond the grasp of human comprehension, a dimension where souls, which he perceives as forms of energy, transition to after their physical bodies cease to exist. He also confided that since Somers’ departure, there have been instances when he’s amidst his family and feels an urge to retreat to the solitude of their bedroom.

It’s in these moments of solitude that he feels her presence. After acknowledging this presence, he returns to his family, comforted and reassured. Alan Hamel hopes these experiences are real, as they have made the grieving process easier for him. He finds comfort in the possibility of being reunited with his wife in the afterlife.