Engelbert Humperdinck has been entertaining crowds with his incredible singing voice for years, but he couldn’t have done it all without his late wife, Patricia Healey, by his side. The “Spanish Eyes” performer lived a life of wedded bliss with his spouse for over five decades.
Tragically, Patricia died at age 85 in February 2021. Engelbert announced the news in an emotional post on Facebook. “Our family is heartbroken over the loss of my darling wife,” he penned alongside a photo of the two, noting Patricia died after a long battle with Alzheimer’s disease. “She never resisted as we tried to leave no stone unturned. We love you beyond words, forever and always. Goodnight, my baby.”
The U.K. native is devastated over his longtime love’s death, but Engelbert is finding solace in all the beautiful memories they shared together. The couple first met when they crossed paths while enjoying a night out in 1953. “When she was 17 years old, I asked her to dance,” he exclusively recalled to Closer Weekly in September 2020.
While looking back at the beginning of their romance, Engelbert said there was no doubt it was “love at first sight” between him and Patricia. “She was my first real date — when I danced with her that night, I asked her for a date the next day,” he shared. “I said, ‘I won’t marry you until I make a name for myself. I want to take care of you.’ I was a nobody and wanted to keep her comfortable.”
The “Release Me” crooner and Patricia tied the knot in 1964, and less than three years later, he shot to fame with his hit songs “Release Me” and “The Last Waltz.” Both tunes topped the U.K. music charts in 1967, as well as sold more than a million copies each.
Throughout the early years of their marriage, Engelbert and Patricia experienced many exciting phases. Together, they became the proud parents of their four kids, Jason Dorsey, Scott Dorsey, Louise Dorsey and Bradley Dorsey.
Like other marriages, however, Engelbert and Patricia dealt with their fair share of challenges. According to the “Love Me With All Your Heart,” he had multiple affairs and flings throughout their relationship. Fortunately, their love persevered, and the Moment of Decision actress made the decision to stay married to her husband.
“I’m so glad she stayed with me through thick and thin,” he gushed to Closer. “I want my life to be with her. There have been ups and downs, but I would never change it for the world.”
Patricia Was a U.K. Native
Like her hubby, Patricia was raised in the U.K. The actress was born on February 5, 1936.
She Was an Actress
Although Patricia never dedicated her life to acting in Hollywood, she appeared in tons of films throughout her career. According to IMDb, the brunette beauty had credits in 1964’s R3, 1967’s The White Bus, 1978’s Wuthering Heights and more.
Patricia Was a Great Mom
Because Engelbert was extremely busy paving a career in showbiz, Patricia took on a lot of the responsibility when it came to parenting their four kids.
“I was doing around 300 shows a year and my traveling schedule was outrageous. One time I did 80 concerts in a row!” he explained to Closer. “It was hard. My four children were tiny. I never got to see them very much growing up, and my wife did a great job of raising them. She would always put a little threat on: ‘If you keep this up, I’ll tell your father when he comes home!’ But I wasn’t that strict.”
She Had Eight Grandchildren
Thanks to the pair’s four children, Patricia was the proud grandma of eight grandchildren. While chatting with Closer, Engelbert revealed his one granddaughter Olivia is already following in his footsteps.
“My granddaughter [Olivia] did a [2017] duet with me, ‘I’m Glad I Danced With You,’ and she was only 9 years old at the time!” he marveled. “And today, I would say she’s in the category of a Whitney Houston. I’m not prejudiced, I’m just telling you the truth. She’s got those kinds of pipes.”
Patricia Had Alzheimer’s Disease
Leading up to her death, Engelbert’s spouse battled Alzheimer’s disease. In order to make Patricia feel comfortable, he treated her with “holistic medicine and acupuncture.”
“It’s taking a lot of time,” he told Closer. “She doesn’t talk much, but [recently] I said, ‘I’m going to pull some weeds.’ We live on top of a steep mountain and she said, ‘No.’ So I let the gardener do it! I’m waiting for a cure for her.”
Just days before Patricia died, Engelbert revealed she tested positive for COVID-19. While the “How I Love You” crooner, who also tested positive, said he was holding up, he revealed Patricia was “in need of all the love she ever gave out to come back to her a million-fold.”
Between her Alzheimer’s and the “blow” from the coronavirus, Engelbert stressed the severity of Patricia’s condition. “I know in my heart I will be fine, but our hearts are breaking and we are needing a miracle for my darling wife,” he said on Facebook on February 3.
Two days later, the Golden Globe winner revealed he was by Patricia’s side as she died, as well as their children who said goodbye to their mother “on FaceTime.”
“We prayed as a family, blessed her with the water from Lourdes and off she went, ushered into the arms of Jesus with help from the generous heart filled prayers from all around the world,” Englebert penned in his tribute on February 5.