Betty White will be honored with her own day in her hometown of Oak Park, Illinois; TMZ reports. The television icon, who passed away on New Year’s Eve (Dec. 31) at 99 years old, will be celebrated in the Illinois village on Jan. 17, which would have been her 100th birthday.
According to the president of the Village of Oak Park, Vicki Scaman, “Betty White Day” will include specials at small local businesses. For example, Mickey’s Restaurant will offer a signature Betty White dish that includes a hot dog, French fries and Diet Coke –one of the actress’ favorite meals. A local bakery will also make a huge birthday cake and cutouts of White will be put up around downtown.
The celebration will also include a Betty White mural painting contest, the winner of which will be painted on a wall downtown. President Scaman will read a proclamation for “Betty White Day,” making the holiday official, during a public memorial for the late star a few days ahead of her birthday, TMZ adds.
Though White moved to California as a child, Scaman told the outlet that she regularly visited her relatives in Oak Park and spoke highly of the Illinois village.
As reported by REVOLT, White sadly died on New Year’s Eve from natural causes just weeks away from her 100th birthday and several planned celebrations. There were reported rumors that the “Golden Girls” star died days after receiving her COVID-19 vaccine booster shot, which her agent quickly denied.
“Betty died peacefully in her sleep at her home,” her agent and friend Jeff Witjas told People. “People are saying her death was related to getting a booster shot three days earlier, but that is not true. She died of natural causes. Her death should not be politicized — that is not the life she lived.”
On Jan. 17, White’s movie special, Betty White: 100 Years Young — A Birthday Celebration, will also air in select theaters. The film was supposed to hit theaters in celebration of White’s 100th birthday, but filmmakers Mike Trinklein and Steve Boettcher said they will still air the movie to “provide a way for all who loved her to celebrate her life — and experience what made her such a national treasure.”