Madonna hit by loss as family member dies of 'very aggressive' disease
Pop superstar Madonna's stepmother Joan Clare Ciccone has passed away 'peacefully' following a diagnosis of 'a very aggressive form of cancer'. Joan, who married Madonna's father Silvio Tony Ciccone in 1966, died at the age of 81 on Tuesday, leaving behind a legacy of 'enthusiasm, joy and love' for her family.
Her obituary noted that she took particular joy in her grandchildren later in life and was saddened by the thought of not seeing them marry and have children of their own due to her grim cancer prognosis. Joan's life was characterised by her commitment to children, having run a daycare for more than twenty years, according to her obituary.
She is survived by her husband and her large family, who will celebrate her life in a memorial on October 3. Joan, who was the family's housekeeper, married Tony and they had two children, Jennifer and Mario. Madonna was notably unhappy about her father's remarriage, which strained their relationship for many years.
In a 1985 interview with Time magazine, the singer likened herself to Cinderella, hinting at the difficulties she faced adjusting to her new family dynamic after her father's remarriage. It was reported that she felt resentment towards her stepmother and father, who remarried just years after her mother's death.
In a 2015 interview with Howard Stern, Madonna revealed her struggle to accept Joan, who entered her life just three years after the devastating loss of her own mother. Madonna disclosed that her stepmother slapped her and maintained a strict Catholic household, where she was forbidden to use tampons, according to Grunge.
Yet, as the years rolled on, it appears the pop icon's attitude mellowed. During a 2002 chat with Larry King, Madonna confessed she had been unjust in her initial dealings with Joan, acknowledging that her stepmother was 'trying'.