Key Highlights
- Alice and Ellen Kessler, famous German-American sisters from the 1960s and 70s television era, have left a unique testament.
- The sisters wish to be interred in a single urn after their deaths, alongside their mother’s remains.
- This decision is motivated by space-saving considerations, reflecting modern attitudes toward cemetery management.
- Ellen Kessler has had the more enduring romantic relationship of the two, while Alice has been involved with several partners over her life.
The Legacy of Ellen and Alice Kessler
Ellen and Alice Kessler, known as the most famous TV sisters from the 1960s and 70s, have left behind a unique testament that reflects both their enduring bond and modern concerns about space conservation. The sisters, now aged 82, have stipulated in their wills that they wish to be interred together, sharing an urn with their mother’s remains.
This decision stems from the Kesslers’ belief that it is important to “save space,” a sentiment that resonates in contemporary times where cemetery plots are often at a premium. Alice Kessler expressed this viewpoint when interviewed by Bild: “We want our ashes to be mixed together one day with those of our mother and be preserved all three together.” She further elaborated, “This is what we have stipulated in our wills,” adding, “The common urn saves space. Nowadays, you should save space everywhere, even at the cemetery.”
The Kesslers’ Journey
Ellen and Alice Kessler were born on August 20, 1936, in Nerchau, a town that was then part of Germany but is now located in Poland. Their early lives were marked by the post-war period, as they fled to West Germany with their family when they were still children. The sisters would later achieve fame in Italy, where they made their mark in television and entertainment from 1961 onwards.
They became known for their performances in various shows, including Studio Uno, Canzonissima, and more.
Despite a brief hiatus after the late 1980s, the Kesslers returned to Italy in 2011 and continued to perform until recent years. Their last public performance was at the Ariston theater in Sanremo in 2014, where they performed one of their classic numbers, ‘Quelli belli come noi.’ Throughout their careers, they were associated with many prominent figures in Italian entertainment, including Mina, Alberto Sordi, and Raffaella Carrà.
Personal Lives
Alice Kessler has had the more enduring romantic relationship of the two sisters. She was involved in a 20-year relationship with Umberto Orsini. In contrast, Ellen has had multiple relationships over her life but currently identifies as single and is surrounded by many friends.
The legacy of these entertainment icons extends beyond their performances.
Their decision to be interred together reflects not only their personal bond but also a broader cultural shift towards more environmentally conscious practices in the face of limited cemetery space. As such, this testament serves as both a poignant reminder of their shared past and a forward-looking statement on modern attitudes toward mortality.
