The people we said goodbye to in 2016

Former union boss and campaigner in the media for workers’ rights, Helen Kelly died at age 52 after losing her battle with lung cancer.

Much loved comedian Ronnie Corbett died aged 85 surrounded by his family at the beginning of April.

Glenn Frey, a founding member of the rock band Eagles died aged 67.

Actor Gene Wilder, perhaps best known as Willy Wonka, died at age 83 in August.

Alan Rickman, the warmly admired British actor who played Harry Potter hero Severus Snape, has died from cancer aged 69 in January.

Former US First Lady Nancy Reagan passed away in March at the age of 94.

Beloved pop superstar Prince, famous for songs including Little Red Corvette and When Doves Cry, died aged 57 in April.

Beloved star of Everybody Loves Raymond, Doris Roberts, died at age 90 in April.

Actress Alexis Arquette, sister to David,Rosanna and Patricia, died aged 47 in September.

Charmian Carr, who played the eldest von Trapp daughter, Liesl, in The Sound of Music has died at the age of 73.

Former Coronation Street star, Morag Siller, died in April after a five year battle with cancer.

Leonard Cohen’s music label confirmed the singer died in November, at age 82.

Veteran film and TV actor Pat Harrington passed away aged 86 in January.

Coro Street actress Jean Alexander who played Hilda Ogden for 23 years died in October, just three months after her 90th birthday.

Celine Dion’s husband René Angélil died of cancer in January aged 73.

Kiwi cricket legend Martin Crowe died after a long battle with Lymphoma at age 53 in early March.

Musical legend David Bowie died on January 10th, after an 18 month battle with cancer.

Kiwi actress Sophia Hawthorne died in February.

Jean Wishart, who was the editor of the New Zealand Woman’s Weekly for 32 years passed away this year.

Champion boxer Muhammad Ali died in June after a long battle with Parkinson’s Disease.

Andrew Sachs, who played the beloved character Manuel in Fawlty Towers, passed away aged 86.

*Growing Pains’ TV dad Alan Thicke died suddenly at the beginning of December after playing hockey with his son. He was 69.