Lala Kent pays tribute to him five years after his passing: ‘My heart will never be the same’
Lala knows mourns the loss of her father five years after his death.
On Friday, the Vanderpump Rules star took to her Instagram page and shared an emotional tribute to her beloved father, Kent Burningham, with a series of throwback snaps.
“Today is the 5th anniversary of my father’s death. What a special man he was,” she began in the caption. “Everyone who knew him loved him. Anyone who didn’t know him has really missed something.’
She further revealed how his passing has left a void, but that she takes comfort in knowing that he has played a part in all the good things in her life since his passing.
‘I miss him. My heart will never be the same again. I will say that the amount of blessings I have received since his passing are wonderful – they can only be explained by him becoming part of my higher power,” she added.
‘Cheers to you, my dear father. Until we meet again @lisa.burningham @cherylbham @eastonburningham @bkbham.’
Tribute: Lala Kent, 32, paid tribute to her late father Kent Burningham on Friday April 21 with a series of throwback snaps on her Instagram page
The cover photo shows a close-up of her father that appears to have been taken on the beach when he was a much younger man.
The next image appears to show a young Lala and her brother Easton with their mom and dad on a summer beach day, apparently in the 1990s.
Another summer photo features Kent Burningham soaking up the sun while taking a trip on a boat.
Both Lala and her dad are all smiling in another photo taken during a break from the ski slopes on a winter outing probably taken in the late 90’s.
There is also a photo of her father sitting in a restaurant with his head shaved, indicating it was a more recent photo taken before his death.
And finally, Kent shared a photo of the small tattoo she got in honor of her dad, which is heart-shaped with “Dad” etched into it. She had the tattoo done sometime in the weeks after his passing as a way of honoring his memory.
Burningham died on April 21, 2018 at the age of 64.
His adoring daughter announced his death on Instagram a few days later by sharing a video capturing a light-hearted moment between the two where they were testing out a Snapchat filter while driving.
‘Rest in paradise, my dear father. The world seems to be spinning much slower. I’ve never felt so lost. I’ve never felt so sad. My world has collapsed,” she wrote in 2018.
Mourning the loss: The Vanderpump Rules star honored her father on the ‘5-year anniversary’ of his death on Friday, April 21, with a series of throwback snaps on Instagram
Family Outing: One of the old snaps appears to show a young Lala and her brother Easton with their mom and dad on a summer beach day, seemingly in the 1990s.
RIP: Kent Burningham was 64 when he passed away in April 2018
Daddy’s girl: Another photo in the tribute appears to show a young Lala on the ski slopes with her dad probably taken in the late 1990s
Her World: The last photo of the post shows Kent Burningham sitting in a diner
‘Dad’ tattoo: The reality star also shared a photo of the small tattoo she got in honor of her father, which is heart-shaped with ‘daddy’ etched in it
Over the five years since his death, Kent has done her best to keep his memory and spirit alive by posting regularly on her social media platforms.
“Dad, I promise I’m going to make you proud. I will be kind and tender just like you,” she shared in part in a May 2018 post.
Later in the winter of 2018, in December, she shared one of her random posts paying tribute by writing, “My dear father. My heart will never be the same again.’
During the first Father’s Day holiday after her father’s passing, she posted another series of throwback photos, along with more heartbreaking confessions from a heartbroken daughter.
Not a minute goes by that I don’t think of you. My heart doesn’t hurt for a second. Not for a moment do I feel whole,” she wrote just three months after his death.
Huge loss: Burningham passed away on April 21, 2018 at the age of 64; a few days later, Kent announced his passing with a light-hearted video of them testing a Snapchat filter
Keeping his spirit alive: “My dear father. My heart will never be the same,” Kent shared in one of her many tributes to her father on social media over the five years since his passing.
The Gifts of Life: Kent has struggled with the fact that her father never saw her become a mother; she is depicted with daughter Ocean, who arrived three years after her death
“Today is heartbreaking and beautiful at the same time. I miss you. I miss your voice. I miss your smile. I miss hugging you. I miss it all. I’m so thankful to call you mine, Dad. I am forever grateful and forever changed. Happy Father’s Day, my dear father. Until we meet again…”
On March 15, 2021, the Salt Lake City, Utah native welcomed her first baby with then-fiancée Randall Emmett, daughter Ocean.
Less than two weeks later, she honored her dad on what would have been his 67th birthday by sharing an update on her life at the time, including some sweet sentiments.
‘My dear father, here we go, celebrating another birthday of yours without you here. I’m a mom now… I know you know that. Ocean is beautiful. She looks like you through the eyes,” she shared.
“I think I’m doing pretty well so far. I wish you could be here to see it. I know you have the best view, but I can’t see you… and that’s all I want. I miss you very much. Thank you for your unconditional love. I feel your blessings. I love you, daddy. Congratulations
Kent typically honors her father on social media on his birthday and other holidays