Devastated Gemma Collins announces the death of beloved mum Joan and admits her ‘heart is shattered’

GEMMA Collins has shared that her beloved mum Joan sadly died on Wednesday. Taking to Instagram to share the heartbreaking news, Gemma told fans that her heart is “shattered” as she penned a lengthy tribute to her dear mum. Gemma Collins revealed on Wednesday that her mum Joan passed away Credit: Instagram/ @gemmacollins Gemma and her mum were incredibly close Credit: Instagram Joan, 70, who had appeared alongside Gemma on The Only Way Is Essex several times, was rushed to hospital just last month. Revealing her passing on social media on Wednesday, Gemma shared a black and white photo of her mum. Sign up for the Showbiz newsletter Thank you! “My heart is shattered into a million pieces. Today our beautiful mum passed away peacefully surrounded by LOVE,” she began in the caption. She then penned a touching note to her beloved mum, writing: “Today, every piece of my heart left with you. “No words will ever be enough to thank you for loving me, guiding me, and being my mum. You gave me life, you gave me strength, and you gave me memories that I will carry for every day I have left. “The house will never sound the same without you. Your voice, your smile, your little ways, they are woven into every corner of my life. I will miss you more than I could ever put into words. “I hope you are finally free from pain. I hope you can walk again, laugh again, and feel light. “I hope you are surrounded by peace and by everyone who has gone before you, watching over us with love.” Most read in Showbiz Joan appeared on TV several times with Gemma Credit: Rex Joan even appeared on Towie alongside her daughter Credit: Alamy She continued: “Thank you for every hug, every sacrifice, every lesson, and every moment. “Thank you for being my mum. It has been the greatest privilege to be your daughter. “Until we meet again, I will carry your love with me. I will look for you in the sunrise, in the flowers, in the birds singing, and in the quiet moments when I need you most. “Sleep peacefully, my beautiful Mum what gives me comfort was today we was all with you. “You will be loved forever, missed every single day, and never, ever forgotten. Gemma.” Alongside the post, Gemma used the Michael Jackson song Gone Too Soon. Gemma’s celebrity pals flocked to the comment section to throw support behind the reality star. Towie star Amy Childs penned: “Thinking of you Gemma. What a beautiful lady your mum was. RIP beautiful Joan.” Just last month, Joan was rushed to hospital after being struck down with pneumonia for the second time in the space of six months. When her mum was admitted to hospital, Gemma told fans she “couldn’t sleep with worry”. Just six months before her hospital visit at the start of June, Joan was hospitalised with pneumonia again. She spent five weeks under medical care before Christmas, with Gemma describing the time as the ‘toughest of her life’. Joan had been rushed to the hospital several times in recent years. In March 2020 , she was first rushed to hospital with pneumonia and it was reported that she suffers from rheumatoid arthritis. The condition left her with a heavily compromised immune system and vulnerable to infections. Four years later in 2024, Gemma was left heartbroken as she told how her mum was in intensive care following a breast cancer diagnosis. At the time, Joan, who found a cancerous lump between her breast and armpit, was rushed to hospital after she stopped breathing. A month later, Gemma opened up on the moment she was told her mum might die – and would not be resusitated – during another hospital emergency. Speaking at the time, Gemma told The Sun: “I’ve had a lot of stress the last couple of weeks. “My mum was suddenly taken into hospital and I was told she could die. “They would not resuscitate her if she went into cardiac arrest. “So imagine that, you know, I’m in the hospital having been out for dinner the day before, and then the next day I’m like, ‘wow’, so that was a massive shock.” 4 comments4