Jobs' final words

Eulogy offers touching look into late Apple co-founder's life...

11:39 02 November 2011

The final words of Apple legend Steve Jobs have been revealed, almost a month after he passed away.

The Apple co-founder said "Oh wow. Oh wow. Oh wow", before he died of respiratory failure in early October after a long battle with pancreatic cancer.

Mona Simpson, Jobs' sister, revealed the final words in the eulogy she gave to Jobs at his memorial service on October 16. It was published by the New York Times this week.

Writer and English professor Simpson, described the final moments of her brother's life after she rushed to his sickbed at his request:

"His tone was affectionate, dear, loving; but like someone whose luggage was already strapped on to the vehicle, who was already on the beginning of his journey, even as he was sorry, truly deeply sorry, to be leaving us.

"His breathing changed. It became severe, deliberate, purposeful. I could feel him counting his steps again, pushing farther than before. This is what I learned: he was working at this, too. Death didn't happen to Steve, he achieved it."

"Steve's final words, hours earlier, were monosyllables, repeated three times. Before embarking, he'd looked at his sister Patty, then for a long time at his children, then at his life's partner, Laurene, and then over their shoulders past them.

"Steve's final words were:' Oh wow. Oh wow. Oh wow.'" 

Jobs passed away on 4 October 2011 at the age of 56.