In 1991, Betty White appeared on the Today show and emphasized that age does not diminish one's humor, zest for life, or enthusiasm. Throughout her life, White exemplified this belief and became more than just a television icon – she became an inspiration.

This week, PEOPLE magazine pays tribute to the late Betty White, who peacefully passed away in her sleep on December 31, just a short time before her 100th birthday, and shortly after the release of their previous cover story celebrating her upcoming milestone.

Below, the Editor in Chief of PEOPLE, Dan Wakeford, provides an explanation.

We were honored to collaborate with Betty White for last week's issue commemorating her upcoming 100th birthday.

Although her big day was a few weeks away, Betty exuded delightful humor and optimism during an email interview with our East Coast news editor, Liz McNeil. "I consider myself fortunate to be in excellent health and feeling great at this age," she shared. In jest, she revealed her secret to longevity: "I do my best to avoid anything green. I suppose it's been working."

After our magazine went to print and hit newsstands and mailboxes all over America, Betty sadly passed away at the age of 99. While we are deeply saddened by this news, we are grateful that Betty chose to collaborate with PEOPLE for one of her final interviews.

Many jest that Betty, renowned for her impeccable comedic timing and wicked sense of humor, is undoubtedly smiling down from above about gracing our cover.

Betty's life was filled with groundbreaking accomplishments in Hollywood, her dedicated activism for animals, and her heartwarming love story with Allen Ludden. She has brought immense joy and laughter to all of us over the years. In this issue, we celebrate Betty's remarkable legacy. There is no such thing as too much Betty.

To this extraordinary pioneer, we express our gratitude for being a friend.

For more on the incredible life of Betty White, grab a copy of this week's issue of PEOPLE, available at newsstands nationwide starting Friday.

To learn more about Betty White, tune in to our daily podcast, PEOPLE Every Day.