Marie Osmond is paying tribute to her brother Wayne Osmond after he died at age 73.
“I’ve taken a break from social media for the past 9 months and will continue to do so as I have felt a need to unplug and spend time with family,” Marie, 65, wrote via Instagram on Wednesday, January 8. “I’m so grateful that just a few weeks ago, I was able to take a long drive to spend time with my brother Wayne. I really felt the Spirit compel me to go see him, and I’m so thankful I listened to what I was feeling.”
Marie reflected on the time she spent with Wayne before his death, adding that she didn’t realize it would be the last time she saw him.
“I will cherish those hours I spent with him for the rest of my life. I didn’t know that just a few days after my visit, he would have a massive stroke,” she continued. “I haven’t done any interviews or issued any statements until this post. The truth is, it’s just too hard to put into words, but I will try my best to honor one of the most loving men I have ever known.”
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In the emotional post, Marie confessed that Wayne’s death left “another giant hole” in her heart. “There’s no question that Wayne had a long and successful career as an entertainer, musician, and songwriter. But what stands out to me as his sister were the joy-filled, humorous times I spent laughing with him and our deep intellectual conversations that left me edified,” she recalled. “He was always my safe place to go when I needed advice.”
News broke on January 2 that Wayne died in Salt Lake City, with sibling Merrill Osmond making the announcement via Facebook. “My brother was a saint before he came into this world, and he will leave as an even greater saint than he came in,” Merrill wrote at the time, noting that his brother “endured much” before his death.
Wayne performed alongside Merrill and brothers Donny, Alan and Jay as part of The Osmonds, hitting the peak of their success in the 1970s. While celebrating Wayne’s memory on Wednesday, Marie shared some of their favorite moments together.
“Wayne loved deeply, and he showered this love upon his beautiful wife, Kathy, whom he loved with all his heart, and his beautiful children and grandchildren. It’s all he ever talked about! 
I admired him, too, for his deep love and unwavering devotion to God our Father and His Son, our Savior, Jesus Christ,” she recalled. “Throughout his life, Wayne was an honorable member of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. It was his eternal compass, and he was a light to others as he testified of God’s great plan for us in this life. If you can, listen to one of his favorite albums that my brothers wrote ‘The Plan.’”
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Marie concluded by sharing support for those who might be going through a similar experience. “So right now, if I could say anything to him, it would be: Wayne, I could not cherish the gift God gave me more than to be loved by you in this life!” she wrote. “You are a true, loving brother, and I will miss you so very much.
I testify eternally of my great love for you with every fiber of my heart and soul!
#TillWeMeetAgain.”
She added, “I know many of you understand these feelings from losing your loved ones,” also sending her “deepest prayers” to those impacted by the outbreak of wildfires raging through Los Angeles.
