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,” George, 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 Ada had on him and his wife Amal Clooney, adding, “Amal and I will miss her terribly.”
According to Ada’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.”