Susan Benedetto, widow of music legend Tony Bennett, remembered her husband following his passing at 96.
In an exclusive interview with People, Benedetto, 56, spoke fondly about her late husband of 16 years, calling him a āwonderful soul.ā
She revealed during their honeymoon in Italy, he would āpaint all dayā and then they would eat pasta, his favorite meal.
āBenedetto, his Family name, which I made my own when we married, means āthe blessed one,ā and I was most certainly blessed to have Tony in my life,ā she shared.
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In a post shared to Bennettās Instagram page on Friday, Benedetto and the singerās son, Danny, thanked āall the fans, friends and colleagues of Tonyās who celebrated his life and humanity and shared their love of him and his musical legacy.ā
āFrom his first performances as a singing waiter in Queens to his last performances in 2021 at Radio City Music Hall, Tony delighted in performing the songs he loved and making people happy. And as sad as today has been for all of us we can find joy in Tonyās legacy forever,ā they wrote.
Bennett died on July 23. His representative confirmed the news of his passing in a statement to People.
āTony Bennett, born Anthony Dominick Benedetto in Astoria, Queens, on Aug. 3, 1926, has passed away in his hometown of New York City at the age of 96 earlier today,ā his representative said.
His representative continued, āThe beloved singer, who was diagnosed with Alzheimerās disease in 2016, is survived by his wife, Susan Benedetto, his two sons, Danny and Dae Bennett, his daughters Johanna Bennett and Antonia Bennett and nine grandchildren.ā
On Jan. 26, Bennett expressed his love for his ābeautiful wifeā in an Instagram post on āNational Spouse Day.ā
āSusan! Iām so grateful for your love and support,ā he wrote.
Bennett continued, āYou make my days brighter and my nights peaceful. I love you more than words can say.ā