Olivia Newton-John’s sister, Rona, has died at age 70. She had been fighting brain cancer and Newton-John had delayed a tour to spend more time with her.
The Grease actress made the announcement herself on her Facebook page Wednesday. She said that her sister had died on May 25 in Australia.
“Rona died of a very aggressive brain tumor and mercifully suffered no pain,” Newton-John wrote. “She was surrounded by the love of her four children - Fiona, Brett,Tottie and Emerson and, her wonderful friends. I will miss her forever - my beautiful, smart, talented, funny, brave sister Rona.”
In lieu of flowers, Newton-John asked her fans to make a donation to the Olivia Newton-John Cancer & Wellness Centre.
As USA Today notes, Rona also acted during the 1960s and 1970s. She was married to Grease actor Jeff Conaway, who died in 2011, from 1980 to 1985.
Newton-John, a breast cancer survivor herself, said last month that she would postpone Las Vegas tour dates to be with her sister.
You can check out our 2011 interview with Newton-John here.