Madonna’s stepmother, Joan Ciccone, dies at age 81 of ‘very aggressive cancer’

Madonna’s stepmother, Joan Ciccone, has died aft a abbreviated bout with “very aggressive” cancer.

She was 81.

Joan Clare Ciccone joined Silvio Ciccone successful 1966, 3 years aft the popular star’s parent died. The 2 had a tumultuous and fraught relationship, though successful aboriginal years appeared to person softened, according to People. Madonna’s parent died astatine property 30 successful December 1963, erstwhile her girl was conscionable 5.

“Truthfully, I didn’t judge my stepmother erstwhile I was increasing up,” Madonna told Larry King successful 2002. “In retrospect I deliberation that was truly hard connected her.”

She agreed erstwhile helium asked if Joan Ciccone was “trying” to marque it work.

Madonna speaks onstage during the 65th GRAMMY Awards astatine Crypto.com Arena connected February 05, 2023 successful Los Angeles, California. (Photo by Kevin Winter/Getty Images for The Recording Academy )

“Joan Clare Ciccone passed distant peacefully aboriginal successful the greeting of September 24th, 2024, aft a little brushwood with a precise assertive cancer,” an online obituary said. “She volition beryllium terribly missed by her household and friends whose lives she enriched with her enthusiasm, joyousness and love.”

Born connected Feb. 3, 1943, she was the eldest of six siblings, the remainder of them brothers. She became a dental adjunct earlier marrying the widowed Silvio Tony Ciccone, Madonna’s father, successful 1966. After bearing 3 children with him — with 1 dying of a bosom defect — she opened a time attraction that she ran for much than 20 years, the obit said.

From 1995 on, she and Silvio Ciccone established and operated Ciccone Vineyard and Winery, doing everything from tending vines to maneuvering a tractor passim the rows, and cooking for galore of the tasting country events, becoming “instant friends with galore of the patrons,” according to the writeup.

She and Silvio Ciccone were joined for 58 years.

Madonna had nary contiguous remark connected her loss.