Just a few days after that celebration, her father lost his battle with cancer. Winfrey has since shared a statement thanking well-wishers for their support on her father’s passing.

The legendary TV personality and media mogul, who has 21.3 million followers on Instagram shared a tribute with pictures of the two of them together and footage of her father sitting in his garden, surrounded by friends and family. In the accompanying post, Winfrey wrote: “Less than a week ago we honoured my father in his own backyard. My friend and gospel singer Wintley Phipps saluted him with song. He FELT the love and revelled in it until he could no longer speak. Yesterday with family surrounding his bedside, I had the sacred honour of witnessing the man responsible for my life, take his last breath. We could feel Peace enter the room at his passing. That Peace still abides. All is well. Thank you for your prayers and good thoughts.”

Oprah Winfrey’s poignant words after her father, Vernon, passes away contain an important message for us all