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In 1993, Dina was diagnosed with ovarian cancer, a somber turn that would cast a shadow over her remaining time. She passed away on February 24, 1994, just five days shy of her 78th birthday. Her body was cremated, and her ashes were divided between two memorial sites in California—one in Culver City and the other in Cathedral City.
Regret and Reflection
In reflecting on their relationship in later years, Burt Reynolds acknowledged the deep bond they shared. He poignantly remarked, "We were soulmates, but my career was on fire and my ego was out of control." This admission of regret suggests a longing for what could have been—hinting that Burt's career aspirations overshadowed a profound connection with Dina that he came to recognize too late.