đ OZZYâS FINAL GOODBYE WILL BREAK YOUR HEART! đ
The Prince of Darknessâs funeral was a raw, emotional farewellâSharonâs tears, fansâ chants, and a missing family mystery. đ˘ What happened at Ozzy Osbourneâs Birmingham procession and private burial? Why were two of his children absent? đ¤
What Happened at Ozzy Osbourneâs Funeral: A Heartbreaking Final Goodbye
Introduction: A Farewell to the Prince of Darkness
Ozzy Osbourne, the heavy metal icon and Black Sabbath frontman, passed away on July 22, 2025, at 76, just weeks after his emotional final concert on July 5, 2025, at Birminghamâs Villa Park. His death, surrounded by family, marked the end of a legendary career that sold over 100 million records and defined a genre. On July 30 and 31, 2025, his funeralâa public procession through Birmingham and a private burial at his Buckinghamshire estateâdrew thousands of fans, rock royalty, and heartfelt tributes. Sharon Osbourne, his wife of 43 years, led the mourning, her tears reflecting the pain of losing her âOzzy.â Yet, the absence of two children, Elliot and Jessica, raised questions. This 1500-word article details the funeral events, the familyâs grief, the publicâs outpouring, and Ozzyâs enduring legacy, capturing why this goodbye hurts so deeply.
The Funeral Procession: Birminghamâs Tribute
On July 30, 2025, Birmingham, the birthplace of heavy metal, honored Ozzy with a public funeral procession that embodied his wish for a âcelebration, not a mope-fest.â Starting at 1 p.m., a regal hearse carrying his coffin, adorned with purple flowers spelling âOzzyâ and a floral cross, traveled from Astonâpast his childhood home on Lodge Roadâthrough Broad Street to the Black Sabbath Bridge and Bench, a pilgrimage site since his death. Thousands lined the streets, chanting âOzzy! Ozzy! Ozzy! Oi! Oi! Oi!â and throwing roses, some holding toy bats referencing his infamous 1982 bat-biting incident. The local Bostinâ Brass band played Black Sabbathâs âIron Man,â setting a celebratory yet poignant tone, as fans raised two-finger peace signs, a gesture Ozzy popularized.
Sharon, 72, visibly heartbroken, stepped out with children Louis, 50, Aimee, 41, Kelly, 40, and Jack, 39, to lay flowers at the Black Sabbath Bench, where tributes included bat-shaped balloons and notes. Sharon, wearing Ozzyâs wedding ring on a gold necklace, placed a pink rose among the memorials, breaking down as she embraced Birminghamâs Lord Mayor Zafar Iqbal. Fans shouted, âWe love you, Sharon!â as she waved tearfully, with Kelly and Jack supporting her. The family-funded procession, costing thousands, was a âfitting, dignified tribute,â Iqbal told The Guardian, reflecting Ozzyâs deep ties to Birmingham, where he was born John Michael Osbourne in 1948.
The Private Burial: A Star-Studded Send-Off
On July 31, 2025, a private funeral at the Osbournesâ 250-acre Buckinghamshire estate welcomed 110 guests, including rock legends like Marilyn Manson, Elton John, Metallicaâs James Hetfield, and Black Sabbathâs Tony Iommi, Geezer Butler, and Bill Ward. Yungblud, seen by Ozzy as a musical heir, gave a reading, honoring their friendship. A floral tribute reading âOzzy F**king Osbourneâ captured his irreverent spirit, while Bostinâ Brass reprised âIron Man.â Sharon, still wearing Ozzyâs ring, was described by People as âheartbroken but proud,â ensuring the event was a celebration per Ozzyâs 2011 wish for pranks and joy, like âknocking inside the coffinâ or a Beatles track like âSgt. Pepperâs.â No specific pranks were reported, but the mood balanced grief with gratitude.
Notably, Ozzyâs adopted son Elliot, 59, and daughter Jessica, 53, from his first marriage to Thelma Riley, were absent from both events and the familyâs July 22 death statement, signed by Sharon, Louis, Aimee, Kelly, and Jack. This omission, noted by Yahoo and SheKnows, suggests strained ties, as Ozzy admitted in his 2009 memoir I Am Ozzy to being an absent father during his 1971â1982 marriage to Thelma due to substance abuse.
Sharonâs Grief: A Love That Defined an Era
Sharon Osbourne, Ozzyâs manager and partner since 1979, was the heart of the funeral. Her emotional breakdownâcovering her mouth, clutching Ozzyâs ring, and making peace signs to fansâmoved onlookers, with Newsweek reporting her tears as she viewed tributes. A source told People, âSharon is heartbroken but very proud of the life the family built together,â noting her gratitude for family time before Ozzyâs death. Her Instagram response to tributes, like âBless youâ to Gavin Rossdale, showed her strength amid sorrow. Sharonâs role in managing Ozzyâs solo career, founding Ozzfest, and starring in The Osbournes (2002â2005) made their 43-year marriage a public saga of love, scandals, and resilience, surviving his addiction and infidelity. Her peace signs, per The Guardian, honored Ozzyâs rock-and-roll spirit.
The Familyâs Farewell: A Divided Legacy
The presence of Louis, Aimee, Kelly, and Jack highlighted family unity, but Elliot and Jessicaâs absence sparked speculation. Louis, 50, from Ozzyâs first marriage, joined his half-siblings, posting on Facebook about sobbing at Ozzyâs final concert, a sentiment echoed at the funeral. Aimee, 41, who shunned fame by opting out of The Osbournes, attended despite estrangement from Kelly, as noted on the 2021 Armchair Expert podcast. Kelly, 40, posted a tearful Instagram tribute, calling Ozzy her âbest friend,â while Jack, 39, supported Sharon physically during the procession. Their involvement contrasted with Elliot and Jessica, who have stayed privateâElliot as a singer-songwriter with a $600,000 net worth, and Jessica as an actress and mother of three. Their absence, per The Sun, âwent largely unexplained,â possibly reflecting Ozzyâs admitted neglect.
Ozzyâs Final Concert: A Living Funeral
Ozzyâs July 5, 2025, concert, âBack to the Beginning,â was a de facto farewell, reuniting Black Sabbathâs original lineup for the first time in 20 years. Held at Villa Park, near his childhood home, it drew 45,000 fans and 5.8 million livestream viewers, raising ÂŁ140 million for Parkinsonâs and childrenâs charities. Despite his Parkinsonâs and inability to walk, Ozzy performed from a throne, joined by Metallica, Guns Nâ Roses, and Yungblud. Kelly debunked death rumors days before, and Sharon told The Sun his voice remained strong. Fans like Will Taylor, who attended the funeral procession, called it âa no-brainerâ to honor Ozzy, believing he was âwith Randy Rhoads looking down,â referencing his late guitarist. The concertâs success framed the funeral as a continuation of that celebration.
Fan and Celebrity Tributes: A Global Outpouring
Fans transformed Birminghamâs Black Sabbath Bridge into a memorial, leaving flowers, candles, and bat-shaped tributes. A new mural of Ozzy in circular shades appeared on Granville Street, joining others in Digbeth, as reported by Newsweek. Jack Ryland-Smith, 19, launched a petition for a permanent Ozzy statue, telling Sky News, âHe deserves everything.â Tributes poured in from Metallica (âhero, icon, pioneerâ), Robert Plant (âyou changed the planet of rockâ), and Elton John (âa huge trailblazerâ), with Ronnie Wood and UB40âs Ali Campbell lauding Ozzyâs Birmingham roots. Sky News reporter Katie Spencer choked up, saying, âItâs tragic but his spirit lives on.â X posts, like @godsmackâs, praised the concert, while @nypost noted Sharon and the kidsâ tears, amplifying the emotional weight.
Ozzyâs Legacy: The Prince of Darkness Lives On
Ozzyâs impact as Black Sabbathâs frontman and a solo artist reshaped music. Formed in 1968, Black Sabbathâs Paranoid and Master of Reality pioneered heavy metal, selling 75 million albums. His solo hits like âCrazy Trainâ and Ozzfest cemented his influence, while The Osbournes made him a pop culture icon. Despite scandalsâlike his 1982 Alamo arrest for public intoxicationâOzzyâs resilience shone, reconciling with apologies and donations. His 2009 memoir I Am Ozzy and 2023 touring retirement didnât dim his drive, culminating in his final show. His $225 million fortune, per Radar Online, will support his six children and Sharon, ensuring his legacy endures.
The Pain of Goodbye
The funeralâs emotional toll was palpable. Sharonâs tears, the familyâs embrace of fansâ love, and the absence of Elliot and Jessica underscored the personal cost of Ozzyâs larger-than-life journey. People reported the familyâs gratitude for âspecial family timeâ before his death, but Sharonâs grief, as she clutched his ring, resonated most. Fansâ chants and tributes reflected a shared loss, with one telling The Guardian, âOzzy is with Rhoads now.â The processionâs celebratory elementsâbrass band, peace signsâhonored Ozzyâs wish, but the pain of his absence lingered, as Fox News noted in photos of Sharonâs breakdown.
Conclusion: A Celebration Tinged with Sorrow
Ozzy Osbourneâs funeral was a fitting tribute to a rock legendâthousands chanting in Birmingham, a star-studded burial, and Sharonâs heartrending farewell. The absence of Elliot and Jessica highlighted family complexities, but Louis, Aimee, Kelly, and Jackâs presence showed unity in grief. Ozzyâs wish for a celebratory send-off was met, yet the hurt of losing the Prince of Darkness was undeniable. His legacyâmusic, Ozzfest, and a chaotic, loving lifeâlives on through fans and family. For more on this emotional goodbye, check The Guardian or People, and join the conversation about Ozzyâs eternal impact.