Kelsey Parker shares 'tough' moment she told children their dad Tom had died
Kelsey Parker chose to be "really really honest" with her two young children after the death of their beloved dad, The Wanted star Tom Parker. Speaking in 2022, she opened up on the "tough" moment she told her children what has happened. The star had been battling cancer and was diagnosed with an inoperable brain tumour in October 2020 and died aged just 33.
Explaining how she broke the "really tough" news to their two children Aurelia, who was two at the time, and Bodhi, who was one, she said: "Aurelia had been getting really confused when Tom went into the hospice. On the Wednesday when I knew I was going in to see Tom I said to her: ‘I want to make sure that Daddy is OK and the angels come and take him.'"
Kelsey added: "We’ve just been really really honest with the children because you have to be." However, she admitted that she struggled to break the news to her daughter about Tom's death, telling The Sun On Sunday: "But having to tell her that her daddy had died, that was really tough.
"I couldn’t talk, it was like I had something stuck in my throat, I couldn’t say it but I knew I had to say those words to her because she had to know. She just said, ‘OK Mummy’, but I needed to be straight with her."
Kelsey also revealed how she had not discussed funeral arrangements with her husband, despite his cancer battle. "He was doing so well. We were the ‘Positive Parkers’ and never spoke about it," Kelsey explained.
She was joined by Tom's fellow The Wanted bandmates, family and friends as she laid her husband to rest. Tom's fans also lined the streets to pay their respects as the singer made his final journey to Saint Francis of Assisi Parish Church in Petts Wood.
Sign up to OK!'s daily newsletter to get updates sent to your inbox for free
Kelsey, who is now 33, said: "He would have loved the funeral. I don’t think he ever realised how many hearts he actually touched. I try to tell myself how lucky I am. How lucky I was to find Tom, the love of my life, my soulmate and best friend.
"What me and Tom had some people don’t ever find that in their lifetimes. It’s so hard but I’ve got to concentrate on all the positives. And I will continue to look for his special signs every day because I know he’ll be with me watching over us all."
Kelsey has continued to be backed by the boys, with Jay McGuiness, who is one of the five members of The Wanted, among the first to offer their support when she announced she'd found love again in an Instagram post.
He wrote: “Love is always the answer” followed by a love heart. Fans were thrilled by the supportive attitude, underneath, one said: “so lovely that you’re showing support for her as always”.
Jay wasn’t the only celebrity to congratulate Kelsey on her new love. TV personality Vicky Pattison, wrote: “Never been happier for someone”. Lisa Baggs who previously starred in Gogglebox added: “My darling girl so happy for you x”. Love Island’s Nathan Massey wrote: “Well this is cute”. Actress Nadia Sawalha added: “Pure joy !!!”. Bake Off’s Candice Brown said: “Dreamy”.
