Father’s Day (June 18) was surely a painful time for the family of Chris Cornell. The Soundgarden legend’s wife, Vicky, penned a loving note to Chris, as did his daughters, Toni and Lily.

Toni and Lily Cornell, along with Chris’ son, tragically experienced their first Father’s Day without the beloved musician this past weekend. Exactly one month before Father’s Day, Cornell was found dead in his Detroit hotel room by his bodyguard, the musician having hung himself in the bathroom. The Cornell family believes the prescription drug Ativan may have led to Chris’ suicidal ideation, though the coroner who performed Cornell’s autopsy reported “drugs did not contribute to the cause of death.”

Vicky was the first to publish a tribute to Chris:

To my sweet love, you are missed so very much. Perhaps if you had not been the most amazing daddy always giving all your attention and love it would not be so excruciatingly hard. You gave with all your heart and it makes the void so much more painful. We don't know how to be without you. I'm trying though for you and for our beautiful children. We love you most!

The next day, both Toni and Lily Cornell shared their feelings with the world:

Daddy,

Let me start by saying how much I love you and how much you mean to me. You are my idol, someone I’ve always looked up to. You were always there for me. You pushed me forward every day, and you still do.

Whenever I cry or feel like there’s no way I can go on, I hear your voice, “Don’t sit worrying peanut. Worry is a waste of time, I’m ok.”

I always took what you said to heart. Probably because everything you said was so smart.

Every time you came home from tour you spent all your hours with us. No matter how tired you were, how many time zones you traveled, you were there for us.

Whenever I was sick you would take care of me. You would cuddle with me, hug me, kiss me. You didn’t care about getting sick. You would stay up all night to make sure my fever went down. And if it didn’t, you would wake me up and give me my medicine. I would open my eyes, see you, and feel better.

I have so many memories with you but one of my favorite ones was earlier this year when I was jetlagged and we watched ‘Purple Rain ‘. We were staying at the BHH and you came into my room when I was trying to find a movie to watch.

“How about Purple Rain?” you said. I always trusted your judgement. I put it on and immediately fell in love! We then got to your favorite song, ‘The Beautiful Ones’.

“This song is so special it doesn’t even belong in a genre. When I was in my twenties, I saw this in the theatre and some guy started cracking up laughing at this scene and song. It got me really mad, ” you said.

I fell in love with the song too and listened to it on repeat.

Our special connection was always the arts. Poems, books, music, writing. We both have a unconditional love for it.

Who’s going to introduce me to movies like ‘Purple Rain’ and songs like ‘The Beautiful Ones’ now? I’m hoping I will find some because you trained me so well.

I know you are still here, and the warmth I feel beneath the cold, is you.
YOU ARE THE BEST FATHER IN THE WHOLE WIDE WORLD. And I know, that if this wasn’t an accident, you’d still be cuddling with me watching ‘Purple Rain’.

I love you and miss you so, Daddy. You deserve your own day to be celebrated because you are the best dad anyone could ever have. Happy Father’s Day!

Love,
Your Baby Toni

Papa,

A couple summers ago we were biking around Central Park and you told me that there aren’t many truly good people in the world, but that I was one of the few. You always had such firm confidence and pride in what I did, and your warmth and love inspired me to do my best. Now more than ever, I want to live my life to help others as you did. I want to continue to make you proud. Toni, C and I promise to survive, persevere and thrive, as we’ve always done. I’m so proud to be your baby, I love you more than words can say and I will miss you forever.

Your ladybug,
Lily

We’d once again like to offer our deepest condolences to the Cornell family during this difficult time.

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