Eddie Van Halen's family celebrated his life with pizza in the hour after he died

Valerie recalled to People magazine: "I didn't want to believe it was happening. Even while it was happening, I wasn't believing it was happening.

"I forget who suggested it, but we were like, 'Should we have pizza?' ... Because he couldn't eat, and the last thing Ed really wanted was pizza. He loved pizza and burritos, so we had pizza in his hospital room. I hope people don't think that's morbid.

"He knew how much I loved him. I knew how much he loved me. The last words he said to me and to Wolfie were, 'I love you.' Ed was very giving with his heart. He wore it on his sleeve."

Valerie and Eddie married in 1980 but the 'Indulge' author filed for divorce in 2005, four years after they separated and though she used to "rewrite the facts" of their relationship, the 'Touched by an Angel' actress now acknowledges they would never have reconciled romantically even if her ex-husband had lived.

She said: "I continued for years to rewrite the facts in my head and build them into some sort of fantasy.

"But now I know we were never going to get back together. We were becoming kinder souls to one another. Our bond was the unconditional love we had for our son."

Wolfgang originally announced his father's death on social media and admitted he didn't think he'd ever "fully recover" from the loss.

He said: "I can't believe I'm having to write this, but my father, Edward Lodewijk Van Halen, has lost his long and arduous battle with cancer this morning.

"He was the best father I could ever ask for.

"Every moment I've shared with him on and off stage was a gift.

"My heart is broken and I don't think I'll ever fully recover from this loss. I love you so much, Pop. (sic)"