Madonna's stepmother Joan Ciccone passes away at 81

Joan Ciccone

, the

stepmother

of music icon Madonna, has passed away after her battle with an 'aggressive' form of

cancer

. She was 81.
The sad news was confirmed through her obituary, which described Joan as someone who "enriched the lives of her family and friends with her enthusiasm, joy, and love."
Madonna, whose mother

Madonna Fortin Ciccone

died of breast cancer in 1963 when the singer was just five years old, has often spoken about the profound impact of her mother's death.

In a Mother’s Day post earlier this year, the '

Like a Prayer

' singer recalled the loss, stating, "I just watched her disintegrate mysteriously... there was no explanation except that she had gone to sleep."

Joan, originally the Ciccone family's housekeeper in Michigan, married Madonna's father,

Silvio Ciccone

, a few years after the death of Madonna’s mother. Together, Joan and Silvio had two children, Jennifer and Mario.
Joan played a significant role in Madonna's life, appearing in documentaries about the singer, including 'I'm Going to Tell You a Secret' and an episode of 'Biography'. Joan is remembered by her family and community for her passion for fashion, antiques, and her contributions to the vineyard.
The singer has still not issued a statement on Joan's demise.