George Michael’s sister Melanie Panayiotou will reportedly be buried next to his unmarked grave in a private funeral next week.
The hairdresser died at her Hampstead home on Christmas Day (25 December) at the age of 55, exactly three years after the Wham! singer’s death.
It’s now claimed that Melanie will be buried beside George and their mother Lesley at Highgate Cemetery in North London next week.
According to the Daily Star Sunday, Melanie will ‘definitely’ get a headstone unlike her older brother after the family decided they did not want his final resting place to become a shrine for fans.
A source told the newspaper: ‘George still doesn’t have a gravestone three years after his death, and it’s going to stay that way.
‘Now that they will also have to visit the family plot to mourn Melanie, they don’t want to be wading through fans and their tributes just to pay respect to the growing number of their tragic loved ones.’
The insider explained that George’s family witnessed his home become ‘a cluttered shrine’ with fans leaving flowers and other tributes following his death in 2016.
‘They want his grave to remain clear of that sort of thing,’ they claimed.
The source added: ‘They want it to be the place he and now his poor sister can really rest in peace. George’s family has paid for extra security at his grave.’
Metro.co.uk has contacted reps for comment.
George died at his home in Goring-on-Thames on Christmas Day at the age of 53 of natural causes related to heart disease and fatty liver.
Melanie was found at the Hampstead home, previously owned by her brother, by her sister Yioda.
The Metropolitan Police confirmed that her death is ‘not being treated as suspicious’ and a coroner will compile a report in due course.
A cause of death is yet to be revealed but friends say she died of a ‘broken heart’ following George’s sudden death.
Lawyer John Reid said on behalf of the family: ‘We can confirm that very tragically Melanie has passed away suddenly.
‘We would simply ask that the family’ s privacy be respected at this very sad time.’
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