Editing Desi Arnaz (section)

==Death==
Arnaz was a regular smoker for much of his life and often smoked cigarettes on the set of ''[[I Love Lucy]]''.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://quitsmoking.about.com/od/Famous/g/Famous-Tobacco-Victims-Actor-Desi-Arnaz.htm|title=Famous Tobacco Victims - Desi Arnaz|author=Terry Martin|work=About.com Health|access-date=October 28, 2014|archive-date=September 6, 2015|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150906071327/http://quitsmoking.about.com/od/Famous/g/Famous-Tobacco-Victims-Actor-Desi-Arnaz.htm|url-status=dead}}</ref> He smoked cigars until he was in his sixties.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.latimes.com/archives/la-xpm-1986-12-03-mn-486-story.html|title=Desi Arnaz, TV Lucy's Loving Co-Star, Dies|work=[[Los Angeles Times]]|date=December 3, 1986 }}</ref> Arnaz was diagnosed with lung cancer in 1986 and underwent treatment. Lucille Ball visited him during this time in the hospital and the two watched VHS tapes of ''I Love Lucy''.<ref name="The Plot Thickens"/> His daughter Lucie was by his side constantly during his final days.

On November 30, 1986, Ball called him. They talked for a short time due to Arnaz's state of health, as he had barely spoken to anyone and had not eaten for three days.<ref name=":0">{{Cite book |title=Desilu: The Story of Lucille Ball and Desi Arnaz |collaboration=Sanders, Coyne; Gilbert, Tom |publisher=William Morrow and Company, Inc |year=1993 |isbn=0-688-11217-X |location=New York |pages=355 |language=English}}</ref> According to Lucie, her mother simply said "I love you. I love you. Desi, I love you," repeating the words over the phone.<ref name=":0" /> Arnaz finished the conversation by answering "I love you, too, honey. Good luck with your show."<ref name=":0" /><ref>{{Cite web |last=Pham |first=Jason |date=March 7, 2022 |title=Here's How Desi Arnaz Really Died & What the Last Words He Told Lucille Ball Were |url=https://stylecaster.com/entertainment/tv-movies/1241933/how-did-desi-arnaz-die/ |url-status=live |archive-url=https://archive.today/20240207214523/https://stylecaster.com/entertainment/tv-movies/1241933/how-did-desi-arnaz-die/ |archive-date=February 7, 2024 |access-date=February 7, 2024 |website=StyleCaster}}</ref> Lucie hadn't realized the solemnity of this last time, not until she checked her diary to notice the date had been the 46th anniversary of Ball and Arnaz's wedding.<ref name=":0" />

He died two days later on December 2, 1986, at the age of 69, just 3 years before Lucy's death. Arnaz was cremated and his ashes were scattered at Sea of Cortés in [[Mexico]]. Ball was one of hundreds to attend Arnaz's funeral, which was held at St. James Roman Catholic Church in San Diego County, California.<ref>{{Cite web|last=Wilson|first=Matthew|date=June 15, 2021|title='I Love Lucy': Did Lucille Ball Go to Desi Arnaz's Funeral?|url=https://outsider.com/news/entertainment/i-love-lucy-did-lucille-ball-go-desi-arnaz-funeral/|access-date=September 2, 2021|website=Outsider|language=en-US|archive-date=September 2, 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210902091135/https://outsider.com/news/entertainment/i-love-lucy-did-lucille-ball-go-desi-arnaz-funeral/|url-status=dead}}</ref>
His death came just five days before [[Lucille Ball]] received the [[Kennedy Center Honors]]. His mother outlived him by almost two years.