Wenche Foss - Death and Recognition

Death and Recognition

Foss was decorated as a Commander of the Order of St. Olav in 1972. In 1988 she was promoted to Commander with Star in the same order. She was one of few Norwegian civilians to hold such a high rank in the King's order of chivalry. She has also been awarded the Red Cross Badge of Honour and appointed a Knight of the Order of the Dannebrog.

Foss received a number of accolades, among them the Hedda Award, an honorary Amanda prize, and Toleranseprisen. In 2007, Queen Sonja of Norway unveiled Per Ung's statue of Foss outside Norway's National Theater. She was awarded the Ibsen Centennial Commemoration Award in 2006.

On 2 December 2010, Wenche Foss announced that she was seriously ill and did not expect to live past New Year. She died in her sleep on 28 March 2011 at Diakonhjemmet Hospital in Oslo, surrounded by her family.

Her death saw an outpour of public grief and tributes rarely bestowed upon civilians. The Norwegian government announced she would be buried with government honour at state expense, the fifth woman in Norwegian history to be given this respect. The funeral was broadcast live on national television, April 4, 2011, and was, in keeping with Foss' own wishes, open to the public. It was also attended by King Harald and Queen Sonja of Norway, as well as Prime Minister Jens Stoltenberg and other prominent members of government.