Jane Birkin’s Legacy: One Year After Her Passing

On July 16, 2023, the world bid farewell to Jane Birkin, who passed away at the age of 76 in her Parisian apartment. The beloved star, known for her contributions to music and film, was discovered by her caregiver, having succumbed to a stroke. In a heartfelt statement released to the media, her family shared, “Jane Birkin has left us after a 16-year battle with illness. Since her stroke in September 2021, her family and the wonderful medical staff have been by her side night and day.”

The poignant statement from her daughters further revealed, “In the days leading up to her passing, she had begun walking again, was eager to reschedule her performance at the Olympia, and had decided to reclaim her independence. Her first night alone was also her last. She chose it that way.”

In the days following Birkin’s passing, her Paris apartment on rue d’Assas became the target of two attempted burglaries, as reported by her close friend and photographer Gabrielle Crawford in Paris Match. Crawford recounted, “After her death, I returned to her apartment in Paris. There were two burglary attempts in quick succession.”

Gabrielle Crawford also reflected on Birkin’s final days, mentioning that the artist had become reclusive, fearing others’ perceptions of her due to medication-related facial swelling. “Apart from her children, Jane did not want to see many people,” Crawford explained.

Jane Birkin’s funeral was marked by her cremation at Père-Lachaise cemetery, with her ashes now resting at Montparnasse Cemetery, alongside her close contemporary who passed away in 2013. News of Birkin’s passing stirred an outpouring of tributes from fans and contemporaries across the globe, affirming her lasting impact on cultural and artistic communities.