"Lisa Marie Presley’s Heartbreaking Journey of Grief: A Mother's Struggle and Final Goodbye"
In a deeply emotional and revealing account from her memoir "From Here to the Great Unknown", Lisa Marie Presley shares the unimaginable pain she experienced after the tragic loss of her son, Benjamin Keough, who passed away in 2020. Her decision to keep his body in her home for two months sheds light on her unique way of processing grief and coping with the devastating loss.
A Mother’s Unconventional Choice
After Benjamin’s untimely death at the age of 27, Presley made the unexpected decision to keep her son’s body in a separate room in her home in Los Angeles, preserved on dry ice. Presley explains in her memoir that there are no laws in California requiring the immediate burial of a loved one, allowing her to keep Benjamin close during her mourning process.
For Presley, this unconventional choice gave her time to come to terms with her loss, echoing her childhood experience with her father, Elvis Presley, whose body was also kept at home for a period before burial. "Having my father at home helped me. I could spend time with him, talk to him," Presley recalls. Similarly, she expressed gratitude for the funeral home's kindness, allowing her to keep Benjamin's body as long as she needed to say her final goodbye.
A Daughter’s Perspective on Grief
Lisa Marie's daughter, actress Riley Keough, also shared her thoughts on this difficult time, describing how Benjamin's body was kept on dry ice while her mother wrestled with where to bury him. Presley considered locations such as Hawaii or Graceland, the famed Presley estate, as the final resting place for her son.
In the end, Lisa Marie chose to lay Benjamin to rest beside his grandfather, Elvis, at Graceland. As a touching tribute, Riley placed her brother’s favorite yellow Nike sneakers in his coffin as a final gesture of love.
Grieving at Her Own Pace
Presley expressed that having the time to grieve at her own pace was invaluable. "Grief is often rushed," she explains, feeling fortunate to have had the time to "continue raising" Benjamin before his burial. Presley acknowledged that her decision might seem strange to others, admitting, "I got used to having him there, taking care of him... it would scare anyone else."
A Permanent Tribute to Benjamin
As part of their healing process, both Lisa Marie and Riley decided to honor Benjamin's memory in a lasting way by getting his name tattooed on their bodies, mirroring how Benjamin had his family members' names inked on him.
Finally
Lisa Marie Presley’s memoir, completed by her daughter Riley Keough following her unexpected death in January 2023, offers a poignant glimpse into Presley’s life and the raw, personal moments that defined her grief. In reflecting on her mother’s legacy, Riley expressed a heartfelt hope that the memoir would help readers see Lisa Marie as a complex, multidimensional figure: "The best mom, a wild child, a fierce friend, an underrated artist, outspoken, funny, shocked, joyful, and sad."
Lisa Marie Presley's story is one of deep love, loss, and resilience, reminding readers that grief is a personal journey, shaped by the bonds we share with those we love.
