‘Catwoman’ Jocelyne Wildenstein’s fiancé Lloyd Klein has sheared insight into his devastating grief as he recalled the heartbreaking moment he found the heiress dead in bed beside him.
The Swiss socialite, nicknamed Catwoman because she reportedly had many facial cosmetic procedures in the hopes of resembling a cat, passed away on New Year’s Eve in Paris from a pulmonary embolism aged 79.
Lloyd, who had been engaged to Jocelyne since 2017, told The Sun that despite already experiencing grief, following the loss of his parents, he has ‘known nothing like this’.
‘We were together 22 years. Every night we slept in the same bed, we said goodnight and kissed and hugged’.
He continued: ‘Silly things get me. I go to a supermarket and see something Jocelyne would have liked, and I get a knot in my stomach.
The couple had laid down to take a nap together and were in anticipating ringing in the New Year, however upon waking Lloyd discovered Jocelyne had died.
‘Catwoman’ Jocelyne Wildenstein’s fiancé Lloyd Klein has sheared insight into his devastating grief as he recalled the heartbreaking moment he found the heiress dead in bed beside him
The Swiss socialite, nicknamed Catwoman because she reportedly had many facial cosmetic procedures in the hopes of resembling a cat, passed away on New Year’s Eve 2024 (pictured together 2006)
Recalling the moment he told the publication: ‘It was very peaceful, she looked beautiful. Her hair was done. One of her dresses, a made-to-measure couture gown by Alaia, had been delivered’.
It comes just days after Lloyd made his first public appearance since Joecelyn’s death, as he attended the Dior Homme show during Paris Fashion Week on Friday.
The French-Canadian fashion designer cut a sombre figure as he attended the fashion show – just one day after Jocelyne was laid to rest at her funeral in Paris on Thursday.
He covered his eyes with a dark pair of sunglasses as he stopped for pictures at the event’s photocall.
The ‘small and private’ ceremony for Jocelyne was held at Père Lachaise Cemetery, the largest cemetery in Paris and most visited in the world which overlooks the city of lights.
The graveyard covers around 110 acres in the centre of the French capital and is also where the likes of Edith Piaf, Sarah Berhardt, Molière, Frederic Chopin and Colette rest.
The service for Wildenstein, who described herself as an ‘art dealer’, is where a number of famous figures in the art world are laid to rest, including authors Oscar Wilde and Gertrude Stein as well as American singer Jim Morrison.
Lloyd cut a solemn figure as he led mourners through the cemetery wearing a black velvet jacket, black trousers and shirt paired with black gloves and his signature sunglasses.
Lloyd, who had been engaged to Jocelyne since 2017, told The Sun that despite already experiencing grief, following the loss of his parents, he has ‘known nothing like this’ (pictured 2015)
He said: ‘We were together 22 years. Every night we slept in the same bed, we said goodnight and kissed and hugged’ (pictured 1998)
The couple had laid down to take a nap together and were in anticipating ringing in the New Year, however upon waking Lloyd discovered Jocelyne had died (pictured 2006)
He was embraced by dozens of tearful grievers dressed in fashionable outfits before the group of mourners headed into the crematorium.
The invitation to the ceremony, which began at 3pm, read: ‘It is with great sadness that we announce the passing of…Jocelyne Wildenstein. September 7-1945 ~ December 31-2024.
‘She will be deeply missed but fondly remembered.’
The intimate ceremony was held with around 40 people gathering in the crematorium.
As mourners walked in, old videos of Wildenstein in glamorous outfits were played on the television screens.
As her coffin was carried in, music from the film Out of Africa was played out, in reference to the months of her life Wildenstein spent in Kenya.
Following the ceremony, Wildenstein’s ashes will be taken to Kenya to her ranch at the Ol Jogi Wildlife Conservancy, where her mother and father’s ashes are also scattered.
He described the famous socialite as the ‘love of [his] life’ while remarking on how much he misses her during a conversation with Page Six on Sunday.
Klein had romantically linked to Wildenstein going back to 2003, though the two had a bumpy relationship that included a 2016 incident in which Wildenstein was arrested for slashing Klein’s face with scissors.
‘She was fabulous. She was the love of my life,’ the fashion designer gushed about Wildenstein.
‘I miss her every half second and I still think I’m in a nightmare right now,’ Klein continued somberly.
‘All my happiness is gone,’ he said elsewhere in the interview, ‘but she did not suffer, and she died in full glamour.’
Leave a Reply