The world was shaken when it was announced two weeks ago that Golden Girls star and Hollywood icon, Betty White, had passed away. While fans were told she had died "peacefully, in her sleep," an official cause of death had not yet been announced.
With TMZ obtaining a copy of the death certificate, we now know White's cause of death to be a stroke, which she suffered from six days before her passing, on December 25. Sources claim she was still "alert and coherent" after the fact, but ultimately succumbed to complications from a "cerebrovascular accident", the medical term for a stroke.
With White's one hundredth birthday celebration just around the corner, fans everywhere are devastated. However, there's still some good news. The movie event celebrating her life and achievements, Betty White: 100 Years Young -- A Birthday Celebration, will still debut on her birthday, January 17, and will feature celebrities such as Ryan Reynolds, Tina Fey, Morgan Freeman, and Lin-Manuel Miranda.
Many other prominent celebrities have paid tribute to her death, even including President of the United States, Joe Biden, who tweeted,
"Betty White brought a smile to the lips of generations of Americans. She’s a cultural icon who will be sorely missed. Jill and I are thinking of her family and all those who loved her this New Year’s Eve."
White's Illinois hometown has also officially been dubbed White's birthday as "Betty White Day", and will use the day celebrate her career and legacy. Fans online have created the "Betty White Challenge", which urges people to either adopt from or donate to their local animal shelters, one of White's passionate causes.
Though we mourn the loss of a beloved figure, it is important to honor her memory by celebrating her life and ideals. Though we may be sad, Betty White proves she will remain in our hearts and minds for many more years to come.
