From Deseret News archives:

Osmond rites security tight

Rumor of $30,000 offer for photo has family concerned

Published: Thursday, May 13, 2004 10:31 p.m. MDT
 |  E-MAIL | PRINT | FONT + - 
PROVO — Security will be tight Saturday at the funeral of Olive Osmond after family members were alerted to rumors that paparazzi have been offered a $30,000 bounty for the first photo of the Osmond matriarch in her coffin.

The offer, coupled with an international outpouring of affection for Osmond since she died on Mother's Day, signals the staying power of the Osmond family entertainment empire, which includes singer and television game show host Donny Osmond and radio talk show host and singer Marie Osmond.

Family spokesman Ron Clark said although Olive Osmond was not so much a celebrity herself, adoring fans around the world have flooded www.oliveosmond.com and other Osmond family Web sites with thousands of messages of condolence for her husband of 60 years, George V. Osmond and the couple's nine children, 55 grandchildren and 22 great-grandchildren.

The funeral is scheduled for 11 a.m. Saturday in the Provo Utah Oak Hills Stake Center, 1521 N. 1550 East.

Story continues below
"We looked for the biggest one we could find," Clark said of the stake center, a meetinghouse belonging to The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, of which the family are members. "We anticipate upwards of 2,000 people, and unfortunately the chapels around here are not great big ones. We found a beautiful building, but the family will probably take up most of the seating capacity."

The Osmond grandchildren and immediate family members will sing at the funeral. Interment will be in East Lawn Memorial Gardens in Provo.

The family wants a traditional LDS funeral, Clark said, led by Kevin C. King, bishop of George and Olive Osmond's LDS ward. Elder Thomas S. Monson of the LDS Church's First Presidency will attend and preside on behalf of LDS Church President Gordon B. Hinckley.

The Osmond family is determined to have a dignified funeral for their mother, said Clark, referring to the security measures. Clark said he was told of the photo rumor by one of the family members.

"President Monson's coming, so that is another security consideration for us," Clark said. "As well as the safety of all those in attendance."

Clark said the viewing has been restricted to close friends and family.

On Saturday, reporters and photographers will be restricted to certain outside areas surrounding the building and not allowed inside for photographs.

Various celebrities are flying in for the service, but Clark said he is not free to release specifics.

Clark said the Osmonds are relying on the local media and residents to respect their mother's right to be laid to rest with dignity.

Comments

You can be the first to comment on this story.

Image

Olive Osmond

previousnext

Latest comments

Editorial: 10 years of TRAX

Sorry earlier I meant to say that tracks seems to travel at 35 miles an hour...

'Peter Frumhoff, the director of science and policy at the Union of...

The Non-BCS crowd ought to create their own title game...their own brand, and...

Letters: Democrats' ethics

That's the whole of your defense of GOP resistance to badly-needed ethics...

Your criticism should hardly be focused on Bennett alone. What about all the...

'Wired's Threat Level blog reported on November 20 that Gavin Schmidt, a...

The reality of climate change is supported by multiple lines of evidence and...

BYU professor remembered

I had the priviledge of staying in the LeBaron home on severl occasions as I...

Letters: Growing jobless rate

So the unemployment rate has dropped to "just" 10%, huh? I wonder what that...

Ahh for the love of money...what money can buy!!!

Advertisements