--- description: Eat, Pray, Love author Elizabeth Gilbert shared a touching tribute to her partner Rayya Elias after she died of cancer at age 57. title: Elizabeth Gilbert Shares Touching Tribute After Partner Rayya Elias Dies image: https://static.time.com/v3/assets/bltea6093859af6183b/blt32f197315cb7ef9e/6988d0a8cf40a8cebbc48081/elizabeth-gilbert-rayya-elias-commitment-ceremony.jpg?branch=production&width=3840&quality=75&auto=webp&crop=16:9 ---  * [Entertainment](/section/entertainment/) ## Entertainment Update your preferences in [Account Settings](/account/preferences/) Close * [Rememberance](/tag/rememberance/) ## Rememberance Update your preferences in [Account Settings](/account/preferences/) Close # 'May You Rest in Excitement.' Elizabeth Gilbert Shares Touching Tribute After Partner Rayya Elias Dies  by [Samantha Cooney](/author/samantha-cooney/)  ## Samantha Cooney Update your preferences in [Account Settings](/account/preferences/) Close Jan 5, 2018 3:42 PM CUT  Authors Elizabeth Gilbert and Rayya Elias attend Rayya Elias In Conversation With Elizabeth Gilbert at PowerHouse Arena on April 2, 2014 in the Brooklyn borough of New York City. Authors Elizabeth Gilbert and Rayya Elias attend Rayya Elias In Conversation With Elizabeth Gilbert at PowerHouse Arena on April 2, 2014 in the Brooklyn borough of New York City.Noam Galai—Getty Images  by [Samantha Cooney](/author/samantha-cooney/)  ## Samantha Cooney Update your preferences in [Account Settings](/account/preferences/) Close Jan 5, 2018 3:42 PM CUT [Elizabeth Gilbert](http://time.com/4558742/elizabeth-gilbert-influential-photo/ "undefined") shared a touching tribute to her [partner](http://motto.time.com/4485920/elizabeth-gilbert-thanks-support/ "undefined") Rayya Elias, who died at age 57. The _Eat, Pray, Love_ author [announced Elias’ death](https://www.instagram.com/p/BdjUSIFDNyE/ "undefined") on Instagram on Thursday. Elias, an author and songwriter, was diagnosed with pancreatic and liver cancer in 2016, the same year that Gilbert and Elias announced their relationship to the public. “I loved you so much, Rayya. Thank you for letting me walk with you right to the edge of the river. It has been the greatest honor of my life,” Gilbert wrote. “I would tell you to rest in peace, but I know that you always found peace boring. May you rest in excitement.” In 2016, Gilbert wrote in a Facebook post that she [divorced husband](https://www.facebook.com/GilbertLiz/posts/1107564732658974:0 "undefined") José Nunes to be with her longtime friend following Elias’ cancer diagnosis. The couple held a [private commitment ceremony](http://motto.time.com/4809605/elizabeth-gilbert-rayya-elias-commitment-ceremony/ "undefined") in June 2017. “She was my love, my heart, my best friend, my teacher, my rebel, my angel, my protector, my challenger, my partner, my muse, my wizard, my surprise, my gift, my comet, my liberator, my rock star, my completely impossible non-cooperator, my otherworldly visitor, my spiritual portal, and my baby,” Gilbert wrote in her post on Thursday. ```json [{"@context":"https://schema.org","@type":"NewsArticle","@id":"https://time.com/5089653/elizabeth-gilbert-rayya-elias-death/","mainEntityOfPage":{"@type":"WebPage","@id":"https://time.com/5089653/elizabeth-gilbert-rayya-elias-death/"},"headline":"'May You Rest in Excitement.' 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