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NEED TO KNOW
Before her death on Dec. 28, Brigitte Bardot was diagnosed with cancer and had undergone two surgeries, her husband, Bernard d'Ormale, has revealed
d'Ormale told Paris Match that he never left his wife's side during her final days
Bardot died peacefully at the age of 91 at La Madrague, her home in Saint-Tropez, France
Brigitte Bardothad been diagnosed with cancer beforeher death last month, her husband, Bernard d'Ormale, has revealed.
Bardot died peacefully at age 91 on Dec. 28 at La Madrague — her home in Saint-Tropez, France — after undergoing two cancer surgeries and experiencing severe back pain, d'Ormale told French magazineParis Matchahead of the actress' funeral on Wednesday, Jan. 7.
d'Ormale, who married Bardot in 1992, told the outlet of his wife's final moments, "I never left her side. I watched over her, supported by nurses who came discreetly every day," per a translated article.
"In the morning, when I served her the breakfast she loved. Like a child, she also had her afternoon snack: tea with milk and a croissant," he recalled to the magazine.
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He recalled of the morning of Bardot's death, "I was half asleep beside her. I sat up when I heard her say 'Pioupiou,' that little nickname we used for each other in private, and then it was over," as reported byParis Match.
d'Ormale added to the outlet, "A sense of peace and tranquility settled over her face. And she became incredibly beautiful again, just like in her youth. You wouldn't have believed she was 91."
The Brigitte Bardot Foundation didn't immediately respond when contacted by PEOPLE for comment.
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The foundation confirmed Bardot's death ina statementon Dec. 28, writing that it was announcing "with immense sadness the death of its Founder and President, Mrs. Brigitte Bardot, a world-renowned actress and singer, who chose to give up her prestigious career to dedicate her life and energy to animal welfare and her Foundation."
Bardot will be laid to rest with a private service at the Notre-Dame-de-l'Assomption Catholic Church in Saint Tropez on Wednesday, Jan. 7. Tributes will be made at the French Riviera resort where she lived for over 50 years after retiring from the acting world, per theAssociated Press.
After the church service, Bardot is set is to be buried "in the strictest privacy" at a cemetery overlooking the Mediterranean Sea, the AP reported, citing the Saint-Tropez town hall.
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The Saint-Tropez tourist information center wrote onFacebookfollowing news of Bardot's death that the actress "will forever remain associated with Saint-Tropez, for which she was the most glamorous ambassador."
"With her presence, personality and aura, she marked the history of our town and helped to spread Saint-Tropez around the world," the post added. "Beyond the star, the Tropezians will keep the memory of a woman who, more than 50 years ago, chose in full international glory to permanently settle in Saint-Tropez, La Madrague, to devote herself to the defense and protection of animals."
News of Bardot's death came afterPEOPLE reportedin October that the actress had undergone surgery amid "serious illness."
Bardotleft behind a complicated legacywhen she died. She became a legend in French film and rose to international fame with her role in 1956'sAnd God Created Woman,but in recent years, Bardot sparked controversy due to some of her more troubling opinions and faced legal troubles over racist and xenophobic comments.
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The actress and singer started her career as a model, appearing on the cover ofEllein 1950 at the age of 15, before acting in films such as 1952'sCrazy for LoveandThe Girl in the Bikini, andDear Brigittein 1965 opposite James Stewart.
Bardot, who became an international star and was seen as a sex symbol of her time, retired from acting in 1973 at the age of 39 and ventured into a new career path: animal rights activism, launching the Brigitte Bardot Foundation for the Welfare and Protection of Animals in 1986.
While Bardot enjoyed great success throughout her career, she also struggled with her mental health. Bardot spoke about struggling with fame in a 2010 interview withFRANCEmagazine, saying, "I have really been on the verge of suicide several times — it's a miracle that I am still alive."
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