Caitlyn Jenner mourns the loss of her mother, Esther Jenner.
On Friday, 73-year-old Olympic gold medalist Esther announced in a heartfelt Instagram post that she had died at the age of 96.
“My heart is broken to announce that my mother passed away peacefully yesterday morning,” Caitlyn wrote alongside several photos of her mother over the years. “Losing a mother is unique in the sense that she is the only person who has ever loved me in my life.”
She continued, “I’m going to miss her so much. A few weeks into her 97th birthday, she’s lived a full life. I love you mom.”
Esther (née McGuire) has openly expressed her support for Caitlyn after she transitioned in 2015.
“It takes a lot of courage to do what he’s doing,” he told PEOPLE in June 2016. [Caitlyn]All I wanted to do was give him a big hug.”
“I love him,” she added at the time. “And he’s happy. That’s what matters.”
Fans were first introduced to Esther in an episode in 2013. Keeping Up With The Kardashians. She continued to appear on Caitlyn’s E! to show I am Cait and the Netflix series Untold: Caitlyn Jenner.
The mother-daughter duo remained close over the years. Esther called on the former athlete’s 94th birthday in May 2020. Caitlyn sang “Happy Birthday” to the head of the Jenner family and presented him with a piece of cake with a candle on top.
“Hooray! 94 years old!” Caitlyn said it in her Instagram video.
Esther struggled with health problems later in life. In October 2015, Caitlyn announced that her mother had broken both of her hips.
“I’m visiting my mom and she’s doing great after breaking both hips,” said Caitlyn. twitter. “He was on the move – he was tough.”
Shortly after, Caitlyn tweeted for friends, fans and family “Please send my mom well wishes and prayers. She is not having a good day. I love you mom! You are an inspiration!”
After marrying Caitlyn’s father, William Jenner, Esther married her third husband, Frank Avery. They had four children: Caitlyn, Pam, Lisa, and Burt, who died in a car accident in 1976.