What Betty White Was Doing In Her Final Days

Cultural icon Betty White died at the age of 99 on New Year's Eve 2021, leaving many wondering about her last days, a time which we can say were reported to be peaceful and primarily spent at home in Los Angeles (via TMZ). Earlier in 2020, the actress chose to self-isolate and have essential errands managed for her, due to the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic (via TMZ). It is understood that although pandemic health guidance has changed over time, White continued to focus on activities at home including "reading, watching TV, and doing crossword puzzles."

Sharing her quarantine in more detail, a rep for White confirmed, "Crossword puzzles are no match for Betty" (via Us Weekly). "She reads a number of newspapers, watches select television, and gets a lot of exercise in her home walking up and down bedroom stairs."

Going into more detail on these pastimes, White has previously elaborated that she loves to watch animal documentaries, "Jeopardy!," and golf in addition to games (via Do You Remember). Sharing in an interview with Variety, the comedian even declared, "I'm an avid 'Jeopardy!' fan. I try to watch as often as I can!" White also shared her love of former host Alex Trebek with the New York Post, saying, "I watch 'Jeopardy!' First, it's such a good game and second, I happen to have a huge crush on the host, Alex Trebek." Perhaps it is fate then that the actress passed barely a year after the famed gameshow host (via CNN).

Betty White was always working and always thinking. Sharing in 2018 White even said, "I'm thrilled to still be working. I'd rather be working than anything else in the world ... well — almost anything," (via New York Post). And indeed, the actress was tossing out jokes to her former co-star Ryan Reynolds just days before her passing (via People).

And then, of course, there's food. White famously loved the unhealthy things. Sharing her favorite foods in an interview, the star said, "I should follow better eating health rules, but hot dogs and Red Vines and potato chips and French fries are my favorite foods" (via People). Elaborating on her eating further, White shared, "I don't eat anything special. French fries. Hot dogs if I can get 'em. And I'm not a big breakfast eater. I'll have a sandwich at lunch and then come home, and Pontiac and I have a vodka on the rocks and then our dinner. You can't get much better" (via Harper's Bazaar).

We can only hope that all these happy routines happened for White on her last days. So, raise your hot dogs and vodka and grab that crossword puzzle for Betty.

Although Betty White lived out her final days in relative comfort and safety, if she'd had it her way, the beloved comedian and actor would have been elsewhere. The New York Post reports White wanted to continue living in the marital home she'd stayed in for decades with late husband Allen Ludden. "She never wanted to leave her home in Carmel, but was forced to for at-home care," a source confirmed. "Los Angeles was more accessible." The "Golden Girls" star was reportedly "more comfortable" in Carmel and wanted to die there rather than in the Brentwood abode where she ultimately passed.

Ludden, who was White's third husband, died in 1981. Their Carmel home, the land for which the couple purchased all the way back in 1978 for just $170,000, overlooks the ocean and is over 3,6000 square feet in size. Sweetly, in an interview that's now recirculating on Twitter in the wake of White's death, the legendary actor is asked how she would like God to greet her, in the event Heaven exists, when White arrives at the pearly gates. In truly iconic fashion, she responds, "Come on in Betty, here's Allen."

In a new interview with People, which was meant to celebrate her 100^th birthday but will now be released posthumously, late comedian Betty White revealed her secret to a long life. "I try to avoid anything green," she quipped. "I guess it's working." However, although the icon of film and TV acknowledged she was "so lucky to be in such good health and feel so good at this age," according to those close to White, she wasn't feeling as great by the end.

Insiders told Hollywood Life that the 99-year-old comedian's health had been deteriorating for quite some time. Her close friend and dress designer Pol' Atteu, who was due to create a gown for White's big centenary birthday bash, admitted, "I've known that her health was not great for some time, but it wasn't until October that I knew how bad it was." In fact, Atteu was told, by White's management team, at that time the birthday dress would no longer be required. Hence, Atteu and husband Patrik Simpson revealed they were "not surprised" upon hearing news the "Golden Girls" star had passed.

However, he also shared, "She really wanted to make it to 100. She was a beautiful friend and we will always remember her with love."