To view this video please enable JavaScript, and consider upgrading to a web
browser that
supports HTML5
video
Tom Parker’s widow Kelsey has opened up about wrapping her children’s presents while preparing for her first Christmas without The Wanted singer.
Kelsey, 32, took to Instagram to thank her followers for checking in with her before letting them know she had prepared for Christmas 2022 to be a tough one.
Parker died in March earlier this year at the age of just 33 after being diagnosed with an inoperable form of glioblastoma, a type of brain tumour.
Posting on Instagram, Kelsey said, referring to another recent family death she’s been dealing with: ‘Today’s been a real struggle. It’s my granddad’s funeral tomorrow – it’s surfacing a lot of grief and trauma.’
‘I’ve spent the evening wrapping presents… It was writing the gift tags: To Rey, to Bo, Merry Christmas, lots of love, Mummy. That really, really got me tonight.
‘It caught me by surprise. I was sat there thinking, “All these presents are just from me” – this is the thing with grief, it literally catches you off guard.’
Kelsey has been sharing regular updates with her fans since Tom died in March 2022 (Picture: Instagram)
She continued: ‘Deep down I did know this, because this is why I’ve been putting off Christmas, I’ve been dreading Christmas, but I’ve got to make the best of what I’ve got.
‘I’ve also got to do it for the kids, it needs to be an amazing Christmas for them. I’m just gonna be so heartbroken… and nothing like a funeral a few days before Christmas.
She also joked that Parker would ‘never, ever’ have helped her wrapping the presents.
The couple were married in July 2018, and had been together for 13 years by the time of Parker’s death in March 2022.
Tom died in March – the couple had been married since July 2018 (Picture: Instagram)
Together, Kelsey and Parker had two children – Aurelia, born in July 2019, and Bodhi, born in October 2020 – shortly after Tom received his diagnosis.
The pop star was then the main focus of the emotional documentary film Inside My Head, which was overseen by the Parkers and broadcast in October 2021.
The documentary feature followed the family’s journey through Parker’s illness and was nominated for a National Television Award earlier this year.
More: Trending
Earlier this month, Kelsey sobbed as she opened a gift and letter from her late husband’s record company in ITVBe documentary Life After Tom.
Kelsey was presented with a gold record of The Wanted’s single Gold Forever, which reached number 3 in the UK charts in 2011.
Got a story?
If you’ve got a celebrity story, video or pictures get in touch with the Metro.co.uk entertainment team by emailing us [email protected], calling 020 3615 2145 or by visiting our Submit Stuff page – we’d love to hear from you.
Tom died in March 2022.
