It’s been a year and a half since thetragic deathofLisa Vanderpump’s older brother, and the formerReal Housewives of Beverly Hillsstar is still reeling from the shock.
“To lose my brother unexpectedly with no closure or conversation is like a relationship ripped out of your arms,” Vanderpump, 59, tells PEOPLE about her only brother. “Grieving takes time.”
Her immense sorrow ultimately led to a fateful decision to leaveHousewivesafter nine seasons.
Lisa Vanderpump/instagram
“I started to realize the fragility of life and what I wanted to achieve while I’m still here,” says Vanderpump, who, in addition to her restaurants and the Bravo hit seriesVanderpump Rules, co-founded Vanderpump Dog Foundation, which will hold its annual gala on Nov. 21 in L.A. “Everything shifted in my brain. I needed the support of friends. And I didn’t have room in my life for negativity.”
“I was in a very dark place,” she reveals. “I was crying every single day. And I spent months just staring at the walls.”
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“Ken was as devastated as I was about my brother,” says Vanderpump. “He loved him.”
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Now, Vanderpump is focused on her future — and on keeping the memory of her brother close.
“You pass those hurdles like the first Christmas they’re not here or the first birthday, and then realization sinks in that you’re never going to see them again,” she says. “It’s been hard to deal with, but I’m a very buoyant person. Even in the depths of grief I try to see the bright side.”
The Vanderpump Dog Foundation’s annual gala will take place Nov. 21 in Los Angeles. Clickherefor tickets.
source: people.com
