Valerie Bertinelli Breaks Her Silence On Eddie Van Halen's Death

Her first tribute to ex-husband Eddie Van Halen constituted a string of broken heart emojis posted underneath her son Wolf Van Halen's Instagram post, which said of the legendary rocker, "He was the best father I could ever ask for. Every moment I've shared with him on and off stage was a gift. My heart is broken and I don't think I'll ever fully recover from this loss." 

Eddie Van Halen's ex-wife, Valerie Bertinelli, has since posted a tribute of her own under her Instagram handle "wolfiesmom," where she posted a beautiful black and white photo of herself, Van Halen, and their son Wolf with the caption, "40 years ago my life changed forever when I met you. You gave me the one He was the best father I could ever ask for. Every moment I've shared with him on and off stage was a gift. My heart is broken and I don't think I'll ever fully recover from this loss. true light in my life, our son, Wolfgang. Through all your challenging treatments for lung cancer, you kept your gorgeous spirit and that impish grin. I'm so grateful Wolfie and I were able to hold you in your last moments."

Valerie Bertinelli and Eddie Van Halen were married for 20 years — they married in 1981, separated in 2001 and divorced in 2007. But the good girl from the sitcoms and the bad boy rocker didn't have it easy. Shortly after they met (her brothers asked her if she could help them get backstage, and she said yes), the two of them got together. But even Bertinelli admits they may not have been a match made in heaven. "The priest we tapped to perform the ceremony gave us questionnaires so he could get to know us better and offer more personal words. As we filled out the forms at home, we each held a little vial of cocaine. Now, if you ask me, those are not two people who should be making decisions about the rest of their lives," she has said (via Showbiz CheatSheet). 

Though Van Halen contributed in his own way, Bertinelli has since owned up to her part in the breakup. "I got tired of, once again, hiding and thinking this is not the life I want for myself, for Wolfie, especially, and I don't want to keep treating Ed so badly." But the two remained friends until his passing — Bertinelli was even at Van Halen's wedding to Janie Liszewski in 2009 (via Newsweek).