Osmonds laugh, cry as they eulogize their father, grandfather, friend

PROVO — The Osmond family, for half a century one of America's most famous entertainment families, gathered Friday afternoon to honor their patriarch, George Osmond, recalling him as a man of integrity and hard work whom they cannot recall ever using a swear word.

Returning home from Chicago, where the Osmonds taped the "Oprah Winfrey Show" Thursday to celebrate 50 years in show business, more than 100 family members joined with more than 300 friends for a funeral that included glimpses of their father by all nine of his children.

Marie Osmond, a contestant on the hit television show "Dancing with the Stars," expressed gratitude that her father lived to see her perform Monday night, when she dedicated her dance routine to "Boogie Woogie Bugle Boy" to her parents and wore her hair they way her deceased mother Olive did.

"I feel that I've lost the most amazing man in my life," she said. "He's dancing in the stars."

Merrill Osmond sang a song he'd written for his father but planned to share with him in Chicago, a trip George Osmond looked forward to but failed to make. Osmond, 90, died Tuesday of natural causes.

George Osmond sang to his children on trips, oldest son Virl said. When his boys began to sing with him, he taught them to harmonize. By the early 1960s, they had landed a five-year contract on the nationally popular "Andy Williams Show."

The Osmond brothers recorded numerous gold records, many of which went platinum. In the mid-70s, the only girl, Marie, joined brother Donny as the eponymous stars of a popular television variety show. The Osmonds continue to be famous worldwide, known as much for being members of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints as for their singing.

Each of the nine children expressed love for their father, often laughing through tears. Each also said they expect to see him again, professing their faith in the LDS teaching that families can be together after this life but clearly saddened by the separation from their father.

"I've tried to laugh to avoid the tears," Marie Osmond said.

Elder Thomas S. Monson of the First Presidency of the LDS Church expressed pride in George and Olive Osmond and their children, 53 grandchildren and 44 great-grandchildren.

"They've been missionaries all over the world," he said, later adding, "This family has set the greatest example of missionary work I've ever known."

Monson also read a letter from the First Presidency that said George Osmond would be remembered as an example for good.

Osmond was buried next to his wife in Provo's Eastlawn Cemetery.

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