Sharon Osbourne, alongside her children Jack, Kelly, Aimee, and Louis, led an emotional procession through Birmingham on July 30 as fans bid farewell to rock legend Ozzy Osbourne. The public tribute was the culmination of the family’s careful balancing act between celebration and private mourning.
Thousands of mourners lined Broad Street to watch the hearse pass landmarks like the Black Sabbath Bridge and bench—sites covered in floral tributes and heartfelt notes from fans. Local brass band Bostin’ Brass played along as the cortege moved toward a private service.
Sharon Osbourne was visibly emotional. At the makeshift memorial, she placed a pink rose wrapped in black paper and gently hugged Birmingham’s Lord Mayor, Zafar Iqbal. As the family walked behind the hearse, Kelly flashed peace signs toward supporters who chanted “Ozzy! Ozzy! Ozzy!”
Despite the grief, the tone remained grounded in Ozzy’s own wishes. The public procession was followed later that day by a small, private funeral service in Gerrards Cross attended by close family and friends—including his Black Sabbath bandmates and Sir Elton John. Musician Yungblud gave a reading, per Ozzy’s request that the day not be a somber affair.
Ozzy had previously shared his desire for a celebration over mourning. He even joked in earlier live interviews that his funeral should include unexpected music, like Justin Bieber or pranks, rather than sorrow.
The public attended in force: many were seen weeping, holding up posters of Ozzy, and throwing flowers at the passing hearse. Organizers had closed roads by 7 a.m. and arranged livestreams for global viewers.
Funeral plans, confirmed by Ozzy’s family, honoured his preference for a “light-hearted, joyful” send-off—not a traditional mourning ritual. Sharon released an official statement announcing his death on July 22, asking for privacy and acknowledging the family’s shock.
Despite Parkinson’s and other health struggles, Ozzy performed his final concert at Villa Park on July 5—just 17 days before his passing. That farewell show brought Black Sabbath’s original members together once more and raised an estimated £140 million for charity.
