Jennifer Aniston Mourns Her Mother Nancy Dow As She Ends Family Feud To Be By Her Side

Former model Nancy Dow passed away at the age of 79 after suffering a series of strokes back in 2011, and her daughter Jennifer Aniston was by her side to the end.

As reported by People Magazine, the former Friends star confirmed the news of her mother’s death on Wednesday night.

A statement from Jennifer reads: “It is with great sadness that my brother John and I announce the passing of our mother Nancy Dow. She was 79 years old and passed peacefully surrounded by family and friends after enduring a long illness. We ask that our family’s privacy be respected as we grieve our loss.”

Jennifer Aniston’s mother Nancy Dow has passed away at age 79: https://t.co/5HRMaitfUo pic.twitter.com/Hv15sNzikP

— E! News (@enews) May 26, 2016

While many media reports are saying Dow died of an unknown illness, many other reports state that the former model had suffered a series of strokes back in 2011 and had lost the ability to speak and walk.

Aniston and her mother had been estranged for some years after Aniston stopped speaking to Dow following the publication of Nancy’s book From Mother And Daughter To Friends: A Memoir back in 1999. Reportedly, Jennifer was angry about revelations her mother had made in the tell-all book, which charted their relationship.

The book led to Aniston and Dow being estranged for nine years before briefly reconciling in 2005, following Jennifer’s split from Brad Pitt.

Reportedly upon learning of her mother’s illness, Aniston visited Dow for the first time in almost five years earlier this month.

As reported by The Sun, during an interview with Good Morning America discussing the reconciliation, Jennifer said “It’s been really nice. It’s crazy what, you know, your life kind of being turned upside down will lead you to.”

“So this is good. It’s baby steps.”

However, in an interview with The Hollywood Reporter last year, Jennifer had insisted that she and her mother were on good terms despite their problems in the past.

“We’re all fine,” Jennifer said at the time.

“She had a temper. I can’t tolerate that. If I get upset, I will discuss things. I will never scream and get hysterical like that. But I was never taught that I could scream. One time, I raised my voice to my mother, and I screamed at her, and she looked at me and burst out laughing. She was laughing at me for screaming back. And it was like a punch in my stomach,” added Jennifer.

Jennifer Aniston’s mum Nancy Dow dies at the age of 79https://t.co/uxnDrFMxPb pic.twitter.com/dspcOwBbK1

— Digital Spy (@digitalspy) May 26, 2016

Aniston went on to say that her mother was critical of her. She said because Dow was a model “she was gorgeous, stunning.” Jennifer said she herself “wasn’t, and never was.”

“I honestly still don’t think of myself in that sort of light, which is fine. She was also very unforgiving. She would hold grudges that I just found so petty.”

Jennifer added that it is not in her nature to hold grudges against other people and that she is forgiving, “probably to a fault.”

She went on to say there are people in her life where she could say, “How do you even talk to that guy?” but added that there is no point in holding on to anger as it is so toxic.

“We’re human beings. Human beings make mistakes. Human beings are not perfect. And by not forgiving someone, it’s not allowing human beings to evolve and become better people.”

Jennifer’s mother, Nancy Dow, was also an actress and reportedly featured in series such as The Beverly Hillbillies, The Wild West and the 2004 Canadian drama Pure.

Jennifer was the sole daughter of Nancy and actor John Aniston, to whom Dow was married from 1965 to 1980. Dow was reportedly previously married to musician Jack Melick, with whom she had a son, John T. Melick III, a Los Angeles director.

[Photo by Mark Davis/Getty Images]