Celeste Arantes, Pelé’s mother, still does not know about her son’s death last Thursday (29) due to multiple organ failure as a result of the progression of colon cancer.
Out of concern for her health, the King of Football’s family chose to keep her from the news. She turned 100 last November 20, the date of the opening of the World Cup in Qatar.
Celeste lives under “home care” care, with a hospital structure set up at home, with the family of Maria Lúcia, 78 years old, younger sister of the King of Football.
Maria Lúcia avoided answering calls and, initially, thought of not going to the wake that starts next Monday (2), at 10 am (Brasília time).
To ESPN, he said he had visited his brother at the Albert Einstein hospital, on December 21, and said that “he himself was already feeling it, he already knew he was leaving”.
“He is very religious, he used to say: ‘it’s in God’s hands’. And I said: ‘that’s right, he knows the right moment'”, he explained.
In the schedule of the funeral procession, which will take place in Santos shortly before the burial of the eternal star, next Tuesday (3), the motorcade with the body of the King of Football will pass through channel 6 of the municipality, where Dona Celeste lives today.
On her most recent birthday, Pelé honored her mother on social media. “Today, we celebrate 100 years of Dona Celeste’s life. Since I was a little girl, she taught me the value of love and peace. I have more than a hundred reasons to be grateful for being her son. I share these photos with you, with a lot of emotion to celebrate this day. Thank you for all the days by your side, mom “, published the official profiles of the King.
The other brother, Jair Arantes do Nascimento, Zoca, died on March 26, 2020, aged 77, after complications from prostate cancer.
The farewell operation for Pelé, the greatest player in football history, has been worked on by the club for months – despite his recent death. In the last week, a series of videos have gone viral on social networks of a structure for the wake being set up in the Vila. Santos did not comment on the matter.
the wake
Despite the presence of the public, who will be able to say goodbye to the King of Football, the ceremony must take place in a sealed coffin, with strict security protocol. The forecast is for it to start at 10 am (Brasília time).
There will also be a procession through the streets of Santos. The burial reserved for family members will be at the Ecumenical Necropolis Memorial, on Tuesday morning (3).
The accesses for the ceremony were defined with gate 1 for the entrance to flower shops. Afterwards, wreaths of flowers will be placed on the side chairs of the stadium.
Fans will be able to enter through gates 2 and 3 of Vila Belmiro, the main ones, and will follow, in single file, until they approach the place where the coffin will be positioned. Like the funeral of Queen Elizabeth II, people will not be able to stop. They will leave through gates 7 and 8.
In aerial photos, it is already possible to see two tents set up in the center of the lawn where Pelé said goodbye to the club in a match in front of Ponte Preta, in 1974, kneeling on the lawn.
In one of the accesses, only family members, some authorities —such as a possible presence of the President of the Republic—, in addition to idols from Santos Futebol Clube will be able to enter. It was not informed by the club what it will be.
At gate 10, the Salão de Mármore, there will be members of the Deliberative Council, politicians and guests. At gate 20, journalists who will need to go through prior accreditation for coverage will be positioned.
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