Richard Simmons was buried in iconic tank top and shorts, brother says

Richard Simmons is taking his legacy into the afterlife.

Beneath the late fitness guru’s burial clothes, he is wearing his iconic workout outfit, Lenny Simmons revealed during his brother’s celebration of life ceremony at St. Louis Cathedral in New Orleans on Saturday, Oct. 5.

“Just like Clark Kent, underneath his beautiful things that he was wearing, his clothing, [Richard] is wearing a tank top and shorts,” Lenny told the crowd, EW confirmed with Richard Simmons’ representative. “Why, you ask? Because we think that God has another plan for him and we want to make sure that he was going to be in his normal costume that we all know and love, to help the saints and the angels get into shape.”

“So I’m here to say to you that even though he’s not here — and I know he’s in spirit here tonight — Richard Simmons will forever be sweating with the Holies,” Lenny continued in video first posted by TMZ.

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The beloved TV fitness icon, whose real name was Milton Simmons, died on July 13, one day after his 76th birthday. The Los Angeles Police Department responded to a call from Simmons’ housekeeper and he was pronounced dead at the scene.

 Over a month later, Entertainment Weekly confirmed his cause of death to be complications from heart disease and recent falls. “Sequelae of blunt traumatic injuries,” with “arteriosclerotic cardiovascular disease” were listed as contributing conditions.

The report from the Los Angeles County Medical Examiner’s Office additionally stated that Simmons “experienced an episode of dizziness and collapsed on the floor on the evening of July 11.” He was found the next morning on July 12 and spent the day in bed. The following morning, he was found unresponsive on the bedroom floor. 

Following news of his brother’s death, Lenny shared a statement with EW, reflecting on the fitness instructor’s life and legacy.

“I don’t want people to be sad about my brother,” he said. “I want them to remember him for the genuine joy and love he brought to people’s lives. He truly cared about people. He called, wrote, and emailed thousands of people throughout his career to offer help. So don’t be sad. Celebrate his life. He was very excited about all of his upcoming ventures he was working on.”

Simmons gave his final interview just two days before his death, reading a passage from his autobiographical Broadway show to a PEOPLE reporter. “How do you deal with loss? It takes a toll on your heart,” he read. “Some shed many tears, others stare at the sky. It’s so hard to say goodbye. Here is what I know: When it’s time for us to go, beautiful angels will greet us with a smile and a hello.”