Editing Katharine Hepburn (section)

=== Final years and death ===

[[File:K-Hepburn-gravestone.jpg|thumb|Hepburn's gravestone in [[Cedar Hill Cemetery (Hartford, Connecticut)|Cedar Hill Cemetery]]]]

Hepburn stated in her eighties, "I have no fear of death. Must be wonderful, like a long sleep."<ref name="all about me" /> Her health began to deteriorate not long after her final screen appearance, and she was hospitalized in March 1993 for exhaustion.<ref>{{cite web | url=https://www.orlandosentinel.com/1993/03/05/katharine-hepburn-admitted-to-hospital/ | title=Katharine Hepburn Admitted to Hospital | date=March 5, 1993 | access-date=May 12, 2017 | archive-date=July 31, 2018 | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180731213514/http://articles.orlandosentinel.com/1993-03-05/news/9303050203_1_katharine-hepburn-actress-katharine-admitted-to-hospital | url-status=live }}</ref> In the winter of 1996, she was hospitalized with [[pneumonia]].{{sfn|Berg|2004|p=306}} By 1997, she had become very weak and was speaking and eating very little, and it was feared she would die.{{sfn|Berg|2004|p=307}} She showed signs of [[dementia]] in her final years.{{sfnm|1a1=Berg|1y=2004|1pp=311, 322|2a1=Bacall|2y=2005|2pp=489–490}} By 2000, she was regarded by her niece to be a "private person".<ref>{{cite web | url=https://www.courant.com/2000/07/31/hepburn-keeping-a-low-profile/ | title=Hepburn Keeping a Low Profile | date=July 31, 2000 | access-date=March 6, 2023 | archive-date=March 6, 2023 | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230306071820/https://www.courant.com/2000/07/31/hepburn-keeping-a-low-profile/ | url-status=live }}</ref> In July 2001, she was admitted to a hospital for [[pneumonia]] and a [[urinary tract infection]].<ref>{{cite magazine | url=https://www.wired.com/2001/07/katharine-hepburn-hospitalized/ | title=Katharine Hepburn Hospitalized | magazine=Wired | access-date=March 6, 2023 | archive-date=March 6, 2023 | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230306072148/https://www.wired.com/2001/07/katharine-hepburn-hospitalized/ | url-status=live }}</ref> In May 2003, an aggressive tumor was found in Hepburn's neck. The decision was made not to medically intervene,{{sfn|Berg|2004|p=323}} and she died from cardiac arrest on June 29, 2003, at the Hepburn family home in [[Fenwick, Connecticut]].<ref name="bbc obit" /> She was buried in [[Cedar Hill Cemetery (Hartford, Connecticut)|Cedar Hill Cemetery]] in [[Hartford]]. Hepburn requested there be no memorial service.<ref name="guardian obit">{{cite news|last=Teather |first=David |title=Katharine Hepburn, film star for 60 years, dies at 96 |url=https://www.theguardian.com/world/2003/jun/30/film.usa |access-date=October 21, 2011 |newspaper=The Guardian |date=June 30, 2003 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130827043918/http://www.theguardian.com/world/2003/jun/30/film.usa |archive-date=August 27, 2013}}</ref>

Hepburn's death received considerable public attention. Many tributes were held on television, and newspapers and magazines dedicated issues to the actress.{{sfn|Bacall|2005|p=485}} American president [[George W. Bush]] said Hepburn "will be remembered as one of the nation's artistic treasures".<ref name="bbc obit" /> In honor of her extensive theatre work, the lights of Broadway were dimmed for the evening of July 1, 2003.<ref name="bbc obit">{{cite news|title=Film star Katharine Hepburn dies |url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/entertainment/3030792.stm |work=[[BBC News]] |access-date=August 24, 2011 |date=June 30, 2003 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110423062754/http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/entertainment/3030792.stm |archive-date=April 23, 2011 }}</ref>

In 2004, in accordance with Hepburn's wishes, her belongings were put up for auction with [[Sotheby's]] in New York City. The event garnered $5.8&nbsp;million, which Hepburn willed to her family.<ref>{{cite news|title=Hepburn auction in US makes $5.8m |url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/entertainment/3802629.stm |work=[[BBC News]] |access-date=August 24, 2011 |date=June 13, 2004 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131227111031/http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/entertainment/3802629.stm |archive-date=December 27, 2013 }}</ref>