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Jocelyn Wildenstein’s body will be cremated and transported to Kenya ranch with family ties

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Jocelyn Wildenstein’s ex-fiance recently discussed future arrangements following her passing at the age of 84, which occurred last week.

According to fashion designer Lloyd Klein, it has been decided that the remains of Wildenstein will be cremated and then transferred to a Kenyan ranch, where her parents’ ashes are already kept. This information was shared by Klein, who had been present with Wildenstein during her last moments.

A more intimate and closed-door funeral ceremony is planned for Wildenstein in Paris, as reportedly shared with TMZ on Monday. Before her remains are transported to Kenya, a location she deeply cherished, this will take place.

According to Klein, Wildenstein’s father is laid to rest on the ranch land itself, while her mother’s remains were scattered there. He further mentioned that it seemed appropriate for her, who cherished the place deeply, to eventually find herself there.

Klein stated on Wednesday that Wildenstein’s passing on December 31 in Paris was due to a long-term health issue known as phlebitis.

Due to her phlebitis, a condition where blood vessels swell and become inflamed, causing potential harmful blood clots (as explained by WebMD), Klein stated that she had severe leg swelling, a blocked circulation of blood, and a lack of oxygen supply to the brain.

According to AFP, Wildenstein passed away due to a blockage in his lung’s blood supply caused by a blood clot.

Blood clots in the legs frequently lead to a potentially fatal health issue, as these clots can move to the lungs, as per the Mayo Clinic’s reports.

Klein mentioned that Wildenstein’s grandmother had experienced phlebitis too, yet this health issue did not spoil their festive holidays. He stated that she enjoyed excellent overall health otherwise.

Known as ‘Catwoman’ for her multiple cosmetic transformations throughout her life, Wildenstein passed away tranquilly in her sleep, according to her long-term companion.

Klein reminisced about how we enjoyed a pleasant evening get-together, preparing for the New Year, and then briefly dozed off to freshen up before dressing up.

Initially, we both were taking a short rest. When I opened my eyes, I called out to Jocelyn, “It’s time to wake up, we need to get dressed.” However, she felt unusually chilly, and tragically, she had already passed away. He made this additional comment.

The French designer went on, his voice heavy with sorrow. “It’s incredibly sad,” he repeated, “to share a bed with the one you’ve known for twenty-one years, anticipating the joy of New Year’s Eve, only to find her chilled.

In my last precious moments with my beloved fiancée, everything was simply perfect. To my utter delight, Madame Wildenstein, who graced my presence in the City of Lights, was radiantly blissful and performing exceptionally well during those days.

Wildenstein was last seen looking healthy on December 18 in Paris with Klein. 

Under a luxurious fur coat, she accessorized with leggings, boots, dark sunglasses, and let her golden locks cascade in loose waves over her shoulders, all the while maintaining a radiant smile for the crowd.

Following her divorce from Alec N. Wildenstein, Jocelyn began dating Klein in 2003.

The two later got engaged, but they have had a bumpy relationship over the years. 

In the year 2016, Wildenstein found himself under arrest following an altercation at his Trump Tower residence where he allegedly attacked Klein by cutting her face with a pair of scissors.

A few days following the incident, Klein was apprehended due to accusations of robbery and assault. It is claimed that he attempted to recover some of his possessions from Wildenstein’s residence.

But the couple later reunited.

A woman born in Switzerland, well-known for her social status, referred to herself as a dealer of artistic works, boasting over a million followers on Instagram.

She hailed from modest beginnings and later married a French-born American billionaire in the 1970s.

But the two courted headlines just over two decades later with their messy divorce.

Following her divorce, she amassed a fortune that placed her among the world’s richest individuals, receiving over $2 billion as part of the settlement and earning additional millions every year.

However, despite decades of altering her appearance through various modifications and lavish expenditures, she unexpectedly squandered everything she had amassed.

The prominent figure in high society was previously wedded to the deceased art dealer and billionaire Alec N. Wildenstein, who was the offspring of the French art dealer and horse breeder Daniel Wildenstein.

Their family presided over Wildenstein & Co., an influential Paris-based art dealership.

Speaking with The Times of London, Jocelyn shared her story of developing a passion for Africa and its wildlife. As a young girl, she discovered a collection of books about the continent that sparked her curiosity.

Subsequently, she took a keen liking towards hunting and wildlife, causing her to be associated with the Wildenstein family’s ranch Ol Jogi, nestled in Kenya.

There, she was introduced on a safari to Alec by Adnan Khashoggi, a Saudi arms dealer. 

Jocelyn remembered the time when Alec chose to hunt down a lion that was preying on neighboring antelopes, and since then, she joined him in an early morning expedition.

She narrated the story of when, after her future spouse successfully killed a lion with two shots (one to ensure it was dead), they consumed some of the creature as a symbolic memento and smeared its blood on their necks.

As a lifestyle expert, I’d say, “I recommend savoring a piece of the game’s heart, a legendary morsel, perhaps for the strength that echoes the roar of the lion.

By the ’90s, Jocelyn underwent significant changes as a result of multiple reported cosmetic procedures, making her virtually unrecognizable.

They gave her a feline appearance, marked by a slanting cat-eye look, a pronounced jawline, and accentuated cheekbones that resemble those of a lion.

Regarding her noticeable transformation, Wildenstein once surprisingly asserted that she had never undergone any form of cosmetic surgery.

Alec made a remark about her appearance. In an interview with Vanity Fair, he stated, “She was insane. I’d always be the last to know. She thought she could repair her face as if it were a piece of furniture. Skin doesn’t function that way. Yet, she refused to listen.

In response to the divorce proceedings, Wildenstein asserted that he had engaged a public relations specialist and consulted a plastic surgeon to authenticate his extensive facial transformation.

More recently she owned up to having some procedures, though she downplayed its impact.

Following numerous reports of extravagant expenditures and continuous cosmetic treatments, Alec initiated a divorce in 1999; however, Jocelyn claimed it was she who initially chose to terminate the marriage because of her husband’s unfaithfulness.

Despite filing for divorce in Switzerland, which made it less probable for Jocelyn to receive a substantial settlement, an unexpected fortune – estimated at $2.5 billion – was still awarded to her.

Additionally, she received a payment of $100 million annually for 13 years from her former husband, and subsequently, his estate after his passing in 2008 at the age of 67.

However, her ex-husband’s family cut off the payments in 2015.

Regardless of his immense fortune that surpassed the dreams of many, Wildenstein squandered it by spending lavishly on luxury items such as expensive clothing, jewelry, artwork, and an exorbitant amount on yearly telephone bills.

In 2018, she asserted to Page Six that most of her wealth vanished due to the discovery that one painting, attributed to Diego Velázquez and part of the trust established during her divorce settlement, was a fake. Contrastingly, a Cézanne piece, initially estimated to fetch around $35 at auction, unexpectedly sold for a staggering $4.7 million.

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2025-01-07 07:05

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