There’s no doubt Lacey Chabert would have thrown the most beautiful 50th birthday party for her beloved sister Wendy if she could have. But the longtime Hallmark star, who throws surprise parties for deserving guests on her Hallmark show, “Celebrations With Lacey Chabert,” marked her late sister’s birthday on October 21, 2025, with a touching tribute instead.
Captioning a photo of herself with Wendy and her other sister, Chrissy, Chabert wrote, “Happy Heavenly Birthday to our dear sister Wendy. She would have been 50 years old today. We miss her more than words can say and hold her so tight in our hearts forever. We love you so much, Wendy 💜”
Famous Friends & Fans Showered Lacey Chabert With Sweet Messages on Her Sister’s ‘Heavenly Birthday’
Thousands of fans and famous friends, including many Hallmark stars, flooded Chabert’s post with love.
Hallmark’s Nikki DeLoach wrote, “Oh, my friend. I know you miss her with every fiber of your being. Wrapping you up in a big hug and my prayers. Love you so much ❤️”
Melissa Peterman, Chabert’s co-star in the “Haul Out the Holly” movies, wrote, “Sending you so much love my friend. Always.”
Hallmark alums Kellie Martin and Danica McKellar also chimed in. Martin commented, “Big hug to you, Lacey” and McKellar shared, “Hugs to your beautiful heart ❤️🙏”
Many fans left thoughtful notes, too, including one who wrote, “Thinking of you Lacey and all the ways you honor your sister’s memory through your light and kindness to others. Praying for wonderful memories to bring you comfort.”
Another commented, “I remember the day you lost Wendy!! My heart hurt 💔 for you. You were so close to your sister. I truly believe that our loved ones stay right by our sides for eternity!! I know that she is extremely PROUD of the wife, mother & friend and the HUGE heart that you have. You are loved by so many of us 💖”
Lacey Chabert Was Heartbroken Over Her Sister’s Death in 2021
HallmarkChabert’s older sister, Wendy Chabert Riggio, died on November 22, 2021, at age 46, according to Turrentine-Jackson-Morrow funeral home, located near Dallas, where she lived.
The next day, Chabert shared the news in an emotional update on Instagram that featured Riggio’s 1994 senior photo from high school. She wrote, “Our hearts are shattered into a million pieces that I don’t know how we will ever put back together again now that you’re gone. We love and adore you more than we can ever say and we will continue to forever and ever and ever. The shocking loss has left us so broken hearted.”
A year later, in December 2022, Chabert said on the Biscuits & Jam podcast, “Grief is a real journey. There’s been days where it’s unbearable, and then there’s days where you’re okay, and it takes you by surprise sometimes.”
Chabert shared during a 2023 appearance on the “You Are Beautiful with Lawrence Zarian” podcast that her sister, who had two young sons, died of a heart attack.
She told Zarian, “It’s been the hardest thing to mourn, to watch my parents grieving their daughter, to watch my nephews grieving the loss of their beautiful mom, for me and my siblings to, you know, have lost their sister. You grieve on so many different levels and that’s something I never expected or understood.”
Working on Hallmark Movies Has Been a Gift During Lacey Chabert’s Grief Journey
GettyChabert has found solace in her continuing to work with her Hallmark family. On the “Biscuits & Jam” podcast, she said her sister had a gift for bringing joy to others, so she’s found renewed purpose in doing the same through her movies, trying to “spread joy” like her sister did.
“I think of that as my purpose in life now, to spread joy to everyone around me,” Chabert said. “I hope that I spread that joy with my job and my movies and anything that I create.”
Chabert stars in “Haul Out the Halloween,” which premiered on Hallmark Channel in early October, and will appear opposite Andrew Walker in the Christmas flick “She’s Making a List,” set to premiere on December 6.
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Lacey Chabert’s Touching Tribute to Her Late Sister: ‘In Our Hearts Forever’