Bret Hart Comments On The Passing Of His Brother

08/31/2017 04:37 pm EDT

After a lengthy battle with cancer, Smith Hart, a member of the legendary Hart Family, passed away last week at the age of 68.

Today, Bret Hart took to his personal Instagram account to pay tribute to his older brother.

"I want to thank everyone for your messages of love and support over these last few days.It is with a heavy heart that I write my final goodbye to my eldest brother Smith. I know that the gates of heaven will open up and welcome one of the most unique and original characters ever. One can only stand in admiration at how Smith stayed truth to himself, always proudly dancing to his own tune. No one was more proud of being a Hart than Smith. He wore his name like a badge of honour. I believe that the Hart family is like being part of something that never leaves you, even if someday you find out you have to leave it. But I also believe that Smith is being embraced in the joyful arms of many loved ones gone before. Smith was ten stories deep. Sensitive, mischievous, hilariously coarse with a whip-smart sense of humour. He was a bottomless trove of imagination and potential and I think that anyone who knew him knows that there was always something very special about Smith.

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He was a boy that grew up in a crazy world filled with colourful characters and it shouldn't be a surprise that he would indeed grow up and become one of the most interesting and colourful characters I ever knew. He left us with his children, all with certain traits of his. Smith was a huge influence on me growing up. He changed my life in so many ways. He taught me how to draw and he was the first brother to ever team up with me in wrestling. Above all things, Smith taught me to laugh, right up until his final days. He'd light up the room with that classic "Smith humour" ("She's going to get the cattle prod."). He also spoke of his regrets with clear-headed honesty. Smith was a fighter. He had great strength and amazing courage right down to the bitter end. He proudly fought cancer until his dying breath and he was lovingly supported by every Hart in our family. He loved us, and all of us loved him so much. It could never have been very easy being the oldest of twelve kids. The enormous task of trying to fill my stern father's shoes may have been too challenging, or perhaps he simply didn't want or need it. Smith followed his dreams and although many didn't come true, he w-"

Smith was a professional wrestler throughout the '70s, '80s and '90s, and even made appearances on the WWF and WWE.

Earlier this month, Smith was moved into hospice care and wrote an emotional Facebook post.

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He said, "I am now more comfortable after being moved into Hospice care. I would like to end any strife or suffering I have been involved with over my life. To anyone and everyone, cherish the moments you have in this world. Do not waste your time with hate or anger. To anyone I have offended, mistreated or been at odds with, please accept my humblest of apologies."

Smith continued, "While I may not have always been everyone's cup of tea, I always did my best to be the person I was most inspired by, my father. I would also like to thank my dear friend Carl Leduc, for making the visit from Montreal to come see me. It meant the world and I really like the new phone."

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