Billie Lourd Honors Carrie Fisher on the 4-Year Anniversary of Her Death

Sunday, December 27 marked the four-year anniversary of Carrie Fisher’s death. The legendary actor and writer passed away on that day in 2016 after suffering a heart attack just a few days prior.

To honor her memory, her daughter Billie Lourd took to Instagram to share a photo of the mother-daughter duo, along with a message for others who are grieving loved ones during the holidays, with a special emphasis on those who might have passed away during 2020, a year marked with so much grief and loss. “Sending my love and strength to everyone out there that’s missing a loved one they’ve lost,” Billie, who recently became a mom herself, wrote. “Especially those of you who have lost someone during this crazy year. You’re not alone.”

This week is particularly significant to Billie; one day after Carrie passed away, she also lost her grandmother (Carrie’s mother), Debbie Reynolds, who died at the age of 84 on December 28, 2016. “It’s okay if everything ain’t all merry and bright,” Billie wrote last year on Instagram, noting that the holidays can be challenging and painful for those who are grieving. “It can be a mix of all of it. And it’s all okay. Feel all the feelings – the good and the not so good. Eat something delish they used to love. Put on one of their favorite songs. Tell a story about them. Cry about them. Call one of their friends you haven’t talked to in a while. Be kind and patient with yourself. Don’t grieve in silence. You’re not alone.”

Throughout the past four years, Billie has continued to keep both Carrie and Debbie’s memory alive by sharing stories and reaching out to others who are grieving similar losses. In 2019, the American Horror Story star penned an essay for Time where she spoke of her mother, Star Wars, and the iconic legacy she’s left behind — both for her fans, and within her own heart. “Losing my mom is the hardest thing I’ve ever been through,” Billie wrote last year. “I lost my best friend. My little lady in the TV. My Momby. And I inherited this weird, intimidating thing called her legacy. Suddenly I was in charge of what would come of her books, her movies and a bunch of other overwhelming things. I was now the keeper of Leia.”

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