AceShowbiz - Madonna's stepmother Joan Clare Ciccone has died at 81. Joan passed away peacefully on Tuesday, September 24 after an encounter with a very aggressive cancer. Her family and friends will deeply miss her.

Joan entered Madonna's life when the pop star was 8 years old, marrying Silvio Ciccone, Madonna's father, in 1966. Madonna's mother, also named Madonna, had passed away in 1963 at the age of 30 when the singer was just 5.

Madonna has been open about her difficult relationship with Joan during her childhood, but she has also shared that she later appreciated Joan's efforts to be a part of her life. In a 2002 interview, Madonna acknowledged that she had "suffered" during moments of chaos as a child, and that she had had a hard time accepting Joan as her stepmother.

Despite their early challenges, it appears that Joan and Madonna may have had a reconciliation of sorts over the years. A video shared on Instagram by a fan account shows Joan greeting Madonna backstage during a concert in 2012.

In addition to Silvio and Madonna's six children, Joan shared two children with Silvio, Jennifer, 56, and Mario, 55. A son named Joey was born in 1967 but sadly died shortly after birth.

Joan was born in Taylor, Michigan, and worked as a dental assistant and daycare operator. In 1995, she and Silvio moved to Suttons Bay, Michigan, to develop and operate Ciccone Vineyard and Winery. She took great joy in her grandchildren and was saddened by the thought of not seeing them marry and have children of their own.

Joan's death comes a year and a half after Madonna's brother Anthony died at age 66.