'Mother Osmond' laid to rest

PROVO — The matriarch of a musical family that became an internationally known entertainment empire was laid to rest in Provo Saturday.

Olive Osmond, 79, suffered a stroke more than two years ago and died last week on Mother's Day in Provo. She was eulogized through family testimony, musical harmony and personal tribute during services that featured tight security following rumors that speculators were offering thousands of dollars for a photo of the family with their deceased mother.

Family spokesman Ron Clark said about 20 security personnel watched over Provo's Oak Hills Stake Center, a meetinghouse for The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. About 1,200 people attended the services and burial at East Lawn Memorial Gardens in Provo, he said.

Osmond was the wife of George V. Osmond and the mother of nine children, including singers Donny, Marie, Jimmy, Jay, Merrill, Wayne and Alan.

She co-founded The Children's Miracle Network which has raised $2.5 billion since 1983 toward providing care for more than 17 million seriously ill children in hospitals across the nation.

Clark said the inspiration for the foundation came from Olive Osmond's tireless work to find help for her two oldest sons, Virl and Tom, who were both born with hearing difficulties. The services Saturday were full of gentle humor and sweet music as the grandchildren and great-grandchildren sang a medley of songs, as did Olive Osmond's children.

Wayne Osmond said he always knew he was his mother's favorite child, but he supposed "these other people I call my siblings may feel like that too."

Jay Osmond said his mother — known as "Mother Osmond" to her fans — loved people and made them feel good just be being around her. Jimmy Osmond said his mother never told him what to do but instead, showed him by example how to live.

Merrill Osmond said his mother spread the gospel of the LDS Church with every opportunity — even giving a copy of "The Book of Mormon" to the Queen of England and to Elvis Presley.

Merrill Osmond said his mother told him one of her first tasks in Heaven would be to look up Presley and see how he is doing. Olive Osmond and Elvis had shared many telephone conversations during Presley's career. "I just imagine all the shaking going on (when they get together)," he said.