Jennifer Aniston releases heart-breaking statement about her mom

Jennifer Aniston and her mom, Nancy Down, have been estranged for about 15 years, but Aniston reportedly got the chance to say goodbye to her mom just a couple of weeks before her passing.

"It is with great sadness that my brother John and I announce the passing of our Mother Nancy Dow," Jen said in a statement.

"She was 79 years old and passed peacefully surrounded by family and friends after enduring a long illness.

"We ask that our family's privacy be respected as we grieve our loss."

"She was critical. She was very critical of me. Because she was a model, she was gorgeous, stunning. I wasn't. I never was.

"I honestly still don't think of myself in that sort of light, which is fine,” Jen said.

“She was also very unforgiving. She would hold grudges that I just found so petty."

I feel sad for Jen as death is so final and having had a difficult relationship with your mom must be so hard.

Can you imagine not inviting your mom to your wedding, and in the same vein how vulnerable you would feel if your mom wrote a book about your relationship for the world to see?

I'm just so grateful for having such a close and sound relationship with my family. Sure, we have heated disagreements at times, but for the most part we revel in each other’s company.