Brad Pitt’s mother has died aged 84.
The death of Jane Etta Pitt, a retired school counselor, was confirmed by her granddaughter and Pitt’s niece Sydney in a heartbreaking post on Wednesday.
Sydney, the daughter of Pitt’s younger brother Doug, lauded her ‘sweet Grammy’, writing: ‘We were not ready for you to go yet but knowing you are finally free to sing, dance, and paint again makes it a tad easier.
‘If you knew Grammy, you knew she had the biggest heart. She cared deeply for everyone and everything, no questions asked.
‘She taught me how to paint, how to be strong, how to lead with kindness, to love Jesus through everything, and to find joy in the smallest things.
‘She made up the silliest games just to make us laugh, and she believed in fairness, in putting others first, and doing good simply because it was the right thing to do.
Brad Pitt’s mother has died aged 84 – she is pictured with the star in 2012
She added Jane ‘could keep up with all 14 of us grandkids without missing a beat.
‘There was no limit to the love she gave, and everyone who met her felt it.’
‘I don’t know how we move forward without her. But I know she’s still here in every brushstroke, every kind gesture, every hummingbird. She was love in its purest form.
‘We were truly blessed to have her to love on growing up and I know she lives on through each of us.’
Jane is survived by husband William Alvin Pitt, three children and 14 grandchildren.
Doug has Sydney, Landon and Regan with his wife Lisa, while Julie is mom to Caleb, twin daughters Josie and Rylie, as well as adopted sons Caden and Cruz, whom she shares with her husband Scott Neal.
Pitt is father to Shiloh, 19, twins Vivienne and Knox, 17, and three adopted children Maddox, 24, Pax, 21 and Zahara, 20 – who he welcomed with ex-wife Angelina Jolie.
Brad Pitt’s representatives declined to comment when contacted by the Daily Mail.
Jane wed Brad’s father William Alvin Pitt – the former owner of a trucking company – in 1962 and the future Oscar winner, now 61, was born the following year.
After the birth of Brad in 1963, William and Jane welcomed son Doug in 1966 and sister Julie in 1969. They raised their family in Springfield, Missouri.
Jane wed Brad’s father William Alvin Pitt in 1962 and the future Oscar winner was born the following year – they are pictured together in 1997
While Jane and William kept mostly out of the spotlight, they did occasionally join Pitt on the red carpet – pictured 2012 with Pitt and ex wife Angelina Jolie
The death of Jane Etta Pitt, a former family counselor, was confirmed by her granddaughter and Pitt’s niece Sydney in a heartbreaking post on Wednesday
Jane is pictured 2014 with grandchildren Pax, Shiloh and Maddox
Jane and William are pictured with their grandchildren Sidney, Landon and Reagan
Pitt is pictured with Jane in 2010 in Venice
While Jane and William kept mostly out of the spotlight, they did occasionally join Pitt on the red carpet.
They memorably supported their son and then-partner Angelina Jolie at the 2012 Academy Awards.
In 2014 they walked the red carpet with Pitt and three of their grandchildren at the premiere of Jolie’s film Unbroken – after the actress was unable to attend due to chickenpox.
Jane said of ‘We’re so very proud of Angie. This means so much to our family, especially our grandchildren. We love her dearly.’
Jolie had praised Pitt’s parents in the past for how they had accepted her adopted children.
‘When I first met them I came in with two adopted children from other countries and I didn’t know how they were going to be,’ she said. ‘But they are equally loving with them.’
