On October 19 at 11:00 a.m. it hung up Lasse Berghagen put his jacket in for good. Lasse had previously had heart problems, and after being sedated in hospital for several weeks, he woke up at the end of September.
But there in the middle of October, the body couldn’t take it anymore. In a message to the news agency TT, Berghagen’s family wrote about Lasse’s death.
“Lars Berghagen, our Larsan, fell asleep peacefully today after a long illness. As we previously told you, he underwent heart valve surgery in September from which his body never recovered,” the family wrote.
Lasse Berghagen was 78 years old. Image source: Henrik Motgomery/TT BildLasse Berghagen’s funeral in Hedvig Eleonora church
On Tuesday 21 November, Lasse was buried in Hedvig Eleonora church at Östermalm in Stockholm. Family, friends and many of Lasse’s artist colleagues were of course present to honor the popular artist.
Hedvig Eleonora church in Östermalm. Lasse Berghagen was buried here on November 21, 2023. Tim “Avicii” Bergling is also buried here. Image source: Henrik Montgomery/TT Bild
Among the guests in the church were, among others Sanna Nielsen, Måns Zelmerlöw, Mark Levengood, Pernilla Wahlgren, Tommy Körberg, Björn Skifs, Tomas Ledin, Niklas and Jenny Strömstedt, Lotta Engberg, Nanne Grönwall, Lasse Kronér, Jan Guillou, Bianca Ingrosso and Molly Sandén.
Malin Berghagen and daughter Linn at Lasse Berghagen’s funeral. Image source: Henrik Montgomery/TT Bild
According to TT, the ceremony in the church began with Orsa Spelmän playing Koppången. Lasse Berghagen had wished that his song Like a shining silver thread would be played at his funeral, and that wish was fulfilled in the church.
The song that ended the funeral was the traditional folk song Gärdebylåten, which has been a dear tradition for the Berghagen family when they celebrated midsummer in Svärdsjö in Dalarna.
Kristin Kaspersen about the nice gesture after the funeral
Malin Berghagen’s half sister Kristin Kaspersen she was of course also at the funeral of Lasse Berghagen.
On Instagram, Kristin has written a post about Lasse, who was married to Kristin’s mother for three years in the 1960s Little Babs.
Lill Babs and Lasse Berghagen were married in Katarina church in December 1965. They divorced three years later. Image source: Gunnar Lantz/TT Bild
On Instagram, Kristin writes about the funeral ceremony, and that Lasse was honored with a standing ovation.
“Beloved, beautiful Lasse! So loved you were and so loved you will be. Today we gathered for a farewell that also became a tribute. Music, song, words about and to you, people who hugged you and you got a standing ovation. It will be something so special when so much love gathers in one and the same place, and everyone shared the love for you, an amazing person… You,” Kristin wrote.
Lasse Berghagen and his wife Eva lived in Östermalm for over 30 years
Lasse and his wife lived together for over 30 years Eve at Östermalm. One of the places that Lasse often frequented was the ancient market hall Östermalmshallen, which had a special place in Lasse’s heart.
Lasse Berghagen and Eva Berghagen (then Strand) were married on 11 June 1976 in Tyresö church. They were married until Berghagen’s death. Image source: Olle Lindeborg/TT Bild
When Lasse was interviewed by Östermalmshallen’s own magazine in 2021, Lasse talked about what “the hall” means to him.
– It is the heart of Stockholm for me. Every time I walk in here it puts a smile on my face. Everything is here. Something that I am constantly drawn to. To walk in and meet everyone I’ve gotten to know there over the years. Having a coffee, having a beer. Just watching people, Lasse told me.
Östermalmshallen in Stockholm always had a special place in Lasse’s heart. Image source: Simon Rehnström/ SvD/TT Bild
Lasse also remembered the first time he was at Östermalmshallen. The year was 1971 and he played the Kar de Mumma revue at Folkan, which was the theater then located on Östermalmstorg, just a stone’s throw from the “hall”. Then Lasse went, Hasse Ekman (director and Gösta Ekmans father, eds note) and Roffe Bengtsson to Östermalmshallen and bought prawns. But there were no later sittings for Lasse, as he lived on Tyresö at this time.
Lasse Berghagen in the Kar de Mumma revue in 1971. Image source: Pressens Bild/TT Bild
In the interview, Berghagen told how a typical “Lasse Berghagen round” could look like at Östermalmshallen.
– I usually come in from the square, pass by “Lasse Grönsak” (Lasse at JE Olsson and Söner, ed. note) and talk to him a bit. Then down to Lisa Elmqvist and buy something home with me or have lunch there. There are usually a few fixed points I stop at, Lasse then told Östermalms Saluhall Magasin.
Here, at Lisa Elmqvist in Östermalmshallen, Lasse used to settle down from time to time for lunch. Or he bought something good for home. Image source: Stina Stjernkvist/SvD/TT Image
So what could be better for Lasse Berghagen’s family to go to Östermalmshallen after the beautiful funeral ceremony.
On Instagram, Kristin writes poignantly about how they honored Lasse:
“Afterwards, the family gathered and we toasted you at Östermalmshallen. Cheers and thanks…for knowledge, joy, and a little tango,” she concludes.