Originally appeared on E! Online
George Clooney is mourning the loss of one of his closest confidants.
The Oscar winner’s sister, Adelia “Ada” Zeidler, died Dec. 19 after battling cancer, he confirmed to People. She was 65.
“My sister, Ada, was my hero,” Clooney, 64, told the outlet in a statement Dec. 20. “She faced down cancer with courage and humor. I’ve never met anyone so brave.”
“The Ocean’s Eleven” actor went on to note the impact Zeidler had on him and his wife Amal Clooney, adding, “Amal and I will miss her terribly.”
According to Zeidler’s obituary, she “died peacefully surrounded by the people she loved” in Edgewood, Ky. A funeral mass is set to take place Dec. 22.
“A talented artist, she shared her skills as an elementary art teacher at Augusta Independent School for several years,” her obituary read. “In high school, her academic achievements qualified her to be a National Merit Scholar.”
Born in Los Angeles on May 2, 1960, Zeidler — who resided in Augusta, Ky.— was also active in her community, taking part in a local book club and serving as a member of the Augusta Art Guild. She also previously held the title of grand marshal of Augusta’s Annual White Christmas Parade, per the obituary.
While Zeidler largely stayed out of the public eye, she maintained a close bond with Clooney through the years. In fact, she once offered insight into their unique communication style, explaining that she didn’t keep his phone number on hand in case it fell into the wrong hands.
“I wouldn’t want to have it in my phone and then lose my phone,” she told The Columbus Dispatch in November 2012. “He can phone me, and he does occasionally, but email is more convenient for both of us.”
Predeceased by her husband Norman Zeidler in 2004, Zeidler is survived by her and Clooney’s parents, Nick Clooney and Nina Clooney, as well as her children, Nick Zeidler and Allison Zeidler Herolaga.
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