Queen Latifah is mourning the death of her mother. In a statement, the singer and actress says Rita Owens died Wednesday after struggling with a heart condition for many years. “It is with a heavy heart that I share the news my mother, Rita Owens, passed away today,” Latifah said. “Anyone that has ever met her knows what a bright light she was on this earth. She was gentle, but strong, sweet, but sassy, worldly but pragmatic, a woman of great faith and certainly the love of my life.” Owens was diagnosed with heart trouble in 2004. In 2016, Latifah talked about her mother’s health issues and said she was shocked when she found out her mother suffered from heart failure. Owens was only in her 50s when she was diagnosed.
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