Priscilla Presley, the mother of Lisa Marie Presley, shared her belief that her ex-husband Elvis Presley and their son Benjamin Keough were present to guide Lisa Marie into the afterlife following her tragic passing at the age of 54 in January 2023. The heartbreaking incident unfolded after Lisa Marie suffered a cardiac arrest at her residence in Calabasas, California, leading to her hospitalization and subsequent decision by Priscilla to discontinue life support.
In her recent memoir titled “Softly, As I Leave You: Life After Elvis,” Priscilla, aged 80, revealed her emotional experience and her conviction that Lisa Marie had departed even before the life-sustaining equipment was stopped. Despite medical indications of minimal brain activity, Priscilla and her daughter Riley Keough sensed that Lisa Marie’s spirit had departed. Riley, who was traveling at the time, felt her mother’s passing while en route.
During the critical moments before Lisa Marie’s heart stopped, family members gathered in the hospital room, with Navarone Garibaldi Garcia, Lisa Marie’s half-brother, seeking reassurance about her condition. Despite efforts to revive her, Lisa Marie’s heart momentarily ceased, prompting Priscilla to make the difficult decision to let her go peacefully.
Priscilla recounted the poignant scene where she instructed medical staff to disconnect the life support, symbolizing her acceptance of Lisa Marie’s transition. She found solace in the belief that Lisa Marie was not alone, as she envisioned the presence of Benjamin and Elvis welcoming her into the beyond. Benjamin tragically passed away at 27 from a self-inflicted gunshot wound in July 2020.
Lisa Marie’s handling of Benjamin’s passing also reflected her deep sense of parental responsibility, as she kept his body at home under controlled conditions. This decision allowed her to gradually come to terms with his loss before deciding on his final resting place, either at the family’s Graceland estate or in Hawaii.
The poignant narrative of Priscilla’s reflections on loss and resilience underscores the enduring bond within the Presley family, as they navigate the complexities of grief and remembrance.