Jennifer Grey is mourning the loss of her mother, Jo Wilder, who died at the age of 94 after recently being diagnosed with lung cancer.
The Dirty Dancing actress revealed in a heartfelt social media post that Wilder died on July 4 after making the decision to end her life on her own terms.
“My mother, Jo Wilder, passed away on July 4th at 94 — by her own choosing, on her own terms, exactly as she lived,” Grey wrote. “True to who she was, she chose grace over fear, understanding that leaving this world with dignity is an honor, not a tragedy.”
Grey, 66, reflected on her mother’s life, describing her as a gifted performer whose path changed after starting a family with actor Joel Grey, her former husband. Along with Jennifer Grey, Wilder is also survived by her son, chef James Katz.
“She was gorgeous and talented – a promising young actress on the New York stage in her youth,” Grey wrote. “She used to say she never fully answered that calling; she became a mother instead.
“If she’d chosen ambition over my brother and me, we never would have had the mother we had.”
Jennifer Grey’s tribute to her mother
Although Wilder stepped away from acting, Grey said her mother continued to channel her passion into other pursuits throughout her life.
“Her passion found other outlets: she was a lifelong activist, fiercely attuned to right and wrong. And for years, many people discovered her extraordinary eye through Wilder Place, her store on Melrose.”
Grey ended the tribute with one final message to her mother.
“She was brave and deep. I love you, Mom. Thank you for showing me how to do it all, even this, with grace.”
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