Merman began to become forgetful with advancing age , and on occasion , had difficulty with her speech . At times her behavior was erratic , causing concern among her friends . On April 7 , 1983 , she was preparing to travel to Los Angeles to appear on the 55th Academy Awards telecast , when she collapsed in her apartment . Merman was taken to Roosevelt Hospital , where doctors initially thought she had suffered a stroke . However , after undergoing exploratory surgery on April 11 , Merman was diagnosed with stage 4 glioblastoma . '' The New York Times '' reported that she underwent brain surgery to have the tumor removed , but it was inoperable and her condition was deemed terminal ( doctors had given Merman eight and half months to live ) . The tumor caused Merman to become aphasic , and , as her illness progressed , she lost her hair and her face swelled . According to Merman biographer Brian Kellow , Merman 's family and manager did not want the true nature of her condition revealed to the public . Merman 's son Robert , Jr. , who took charge of her care , later said he chose not to publicly disclose his mother 's true condition because Merman strove to keep her personal life private . He stated , " Mom truly appreciated her fans ' presence and their applause . But you should n't attempt to be personal — she drew lines , and she could cut you off . " Merman 's health eventually stabilized enough for her to be brought back to her apartment in Manhattan . On February 15 , 1984 , 10 months after she was diagnosed with brain cancer , Merman died at her home in Manhattan at the age of 76 . On the evening of Merman 's death , all 36 theatres on Broadway dimmed their lights at 9 pm in her honor . A private funeral service for Merman was held in a chapel at St. Bartholomew 's Episcopal Church on February 27 , after which Merman was cremated at the Frank E. Campbell Funeral Chapel . In accordance with her wishes , Merman 's remains were given to her son Robert , Jr . Merman was interred in the Shrine of Remembrance Mausoleum in Colorado Springs , Colorado , next to her daughter Ethel
55th Academy Awards
55th Academy Awards
Ethel Merman