Richard Simmons, the iconic fitness guru, was laid to rest in his signature workout attire, his brother Lenny Simmons revealed during a touching eulogy at a celebration of life held at St. Louis Cathedral in New Orleans.

In a heartfelt speech, Lenny shared a little secret about Richard’s burial outfit: “I want to let you all in on a little secret: Richard is wearing his tank top and shorts underneath his clothes just in case God’s final plan for him is to get all the angels and saints in Heaven into shape. Richard Simmons will forever be ‘Sweating with the Holies’.” It was a fitting tribute to Richard’s lifelong dedication to helping people live healthier lives.

Lenny also took the opportunity to reflect on Richard’s journey, describing their happy childhood and the twists and turns of Richard’s career path. From considering a vocation as a Catholic priest to finding success as a charismatic waiter at a local Italian restaurant, Richard’s infectious personality and humor always left a lasting impression on those around him. It was this magnetism that eventually led him to his first acting role on “General Hospital.”

At the age of 26, Richard Simmons had an epiphany and discovered his life’s calling. Lenny shared, “Richard finally knew what God wanted him to do. He wanted Richard to help people, motivate people, encourage people to get healthy and lose weight and get fit and have fun doing it.” And with that, Richard embarked on a mission to revolutionize fitness in the 1980s.

Simmons gained fame and popularity with his groundbreaking line of fitness videos, including the beloved “Sweatin’ to the Oldies” series. His infectious energy and upbeat workouts inspired a nationwide fitness trend, helping people of all backgrounds achieve their health and fitness goals.

Richard Simmons passed away on July 13 at the age of 76. His legacy as a fitness icon and motivator will continue to inspire generations to come.

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