George Michael’s sister died after falling into a diabetic coma on the three year anniversary of the superstar’s death, the Mirror can reveal.
Melanie Panayiotou, 59, was found dead on Christmas Day last year - in a tragic echoing of her brother’s passing on the same day in 2016.
Her body was discovered at her £6.2million home in Hampstead, north west London, which previously belonged to George.
But her cause of death has remained shrouded in mystery with a family source at the time claiming Melanie - who was exceptionally close to her singer brother - had died from a broken heart.
Police called to the house at the time by paramedics said her death was not being treated as suspicious and a report was compiled for the coroner.
A post-mortem was carried out and in March this year Melanie’s cause of death was certified by Assistant Coroner for Inner London North, Jonathan Stevens.
The hairdresser died from diabetic ketoacidosis, a complication caused by lack of insulin and sky-high blood sugar. Diabetes was given as an underlying cause of death.
It also recorded other significant conditions contributing to her death were hypertensive heart disease, obesity and bronchopneumonia.
A private woman with a low profile Melanie was known for accompanying her brother on tours when he was in Wham!
She was reportedly buried in Highgate Cemetery next to her mother Leslie and her brother George's unmarked grave.
Mourners at the private ceremony included Shirlie Kemp, who was also in Wham! and her husband Spandau Ballet's Martin Kemp.
At the time, a family source said people thought Melanie - who was exceptionally close to Michael - had died from a broken heart.
A source told The Sun: "She had been living as a recluse and only really went out to the hairdressers and post office and occasionally with her older sister Yioda.
"She stayed indoors, had shopping delivered and rarely left the house."
Two days before her death, Melanie sent a message to her brothers' fans in a joint statement with her sister Yioda, father Jack and George's manager David Austin.
In it, the family asked that people continue to do “good deeds in his memory.”
They added: 'We know how much his lyrics can offer support when things are tough and help celebrate when times are good and life is going well... and that is just as powerful now as if he were still with us and as many of you say in your messages, it's a gift.”
George Michael, 53, passed away on Christmas Day at his home in Goring-on-Thames, Oxfordshire in 2016 from heart and liver disease.
A vast portion of his estate - including a £98million fortune - was left to his sisters Melanie and Yioda.
Following Melanie’s death, a friend spoke of the tragedy for the sibling’s surviving father.
He told the Daily Mail: “You have got to feel for George and Melanie's father Jack - he's an old man now and is going to bury a daughter after burying his son.
“It's a terrible business for the family. Neither Melanie nor Yioda ever worked, George took care of them.
“They were both very similar to him, very private people and very complicated people.”
