Her 'unsung heroine': Angelina Jolie's aunt loses her battle with breast cancer at age 61

PUBLISHED: 10:03 EST, 26 May 2013 | UPDATED: 05:43 EST, 27 May 2013

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A new blow: Angelina Jolie's aunt, Debbie Martin, 61, aunt has had her life support machine turned off after losing her battle with cancer

Angelina Jolie's beloved aunt Debbie Martin has lost her brave battle with cancer just hours after being taken off a life support system.

The actress' uncle, Ron Martin, has revealed that Debbie, 61, passed away early Sunday morning at 1:50 a.m.

'Angelina has been in touch throughout the week and her brother Jamie has been with us, giving his support day by day,' Ron told E! News.

'They both loved Debbie very much and although Angie is not able to come right now she has sent her love and support which was very nice.'

The 37-year-old actress shocked the world when she bravely revealed she had undergone a double mastectomy after being identified as carrying the BRCA1 cancer gene.

Previously Bill said: 'Debbie is the unsung heroine of this story because she was the first woman in the Bertrand family to attempt preventative surgery.

'She has been a shining example to Angelina.'

Angelina was dealt a new blow as her aunt had her life support machine turned off after losing her battle with the disease.

'We have seen Angelina a number of times since Debbie was diagnosed with breast cancer and Debbie and I were both very proud of her recent decision to have the double mastectomy and to do everything she can to keep her family from having to go through what we've been through,' Ron said.

'Angelina's father Jon Voight has also been tremendously supportive--he came down to see Debbie last Sunday and spent the whole day, talking with her and sharing his love and I know Debbie really enjoyed seeing him and talking with him.'

Debbie died at Palomar Hospital in Escondido, California, leaving her husband Ron and their two sons Chris and Cory Martin.

The Oscar-winning star's uncle previously said his wife Debbie collapsed earlier this week, and has been given just 'hours' to live.

Scroll down for video tribute from Debbie's husband

Passing: Angelina's aunt Debbie passed away early Sunday morning hours after being taken off life support

Mother and daughter: The star's mother, Marcheline Bertrand, tragically passed award from the disease in 2007

Speaking to the Sunday People newspaper, he said: 'She had a seizure and we took her to hospital. They have turned off the life support and her family is all here holding her hand. This is the love of my life ... My wife is hanging in there.

'It's just a matter of hours. She's a fighter. I have reached out to Angelina to tell her what's going on ... [Debbie is] in a coma. It's breast cancer but I think it has spread everywhere.'

More...

Angie's Aunt died thankful that Jolie could save herself through...

Debbie was said to be 'very supportive' of her niece's decision to have both her breasts removed, and a source close to the family claimed she would have taken similar measures if she'd known about her own condition early enough.

The insider said: 'Angelina was very close to Deb and she did everything she could do to help her. Deb was very supportive of Angelina's decision to have preventative surgery.

Fighting on: Angelina, pictured with fiance Brad Pitt, bravely revealed she had undergone a double mastectomy in February after being identified as carrying the BRCA1 cancer gene

'If she had known before what she found out too late, she would have had a double mastectomy as well as her ovaries removed.'

The 37-year-old actress revealed she had undergone a secret double mastectomy in February after discovering she had an 87 per cent chance of developing breast cancer and a 50 per cent risk of getting ovarian cancer.

Angelina's late mother, Marcheline Bertrand, passed award from the disease in 2007, while her grandmother Lois Bertrand and great-grandmother Virginia Gouwens were also tragically claimed by cancer.

The star has announced she also now plans to have a hysterectomy and oophorectomy, where the ovaries are removed to further decrease her chances of developing cancer.

She said: 'I started with the breasts, as my risk of breast cancer was higher than my risk of ovarian cancer and the surgery is much more complex.'

The procedure would rule out any further children for her and 49-year-old fiance Brad Pitt, with whom she raises Maddox, 11, Pax, nine, Zahara, eight, Shiloh, six, and four-year-old twins Knox and Vivienne.

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That is very sad news, now i can definitely can see why Angelina made the decision to have the operation

- southerngirl , Dunedin, New Zealand, 27/5/2013 11:17

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I hope that by the time Shiloh and Vivenne are adults scientists may have found a way to beat this faulty gene so that there will be no need for major surgery. Science is moving forward all the time and I just hope that one day they will get the break through they need to beat this deadly gene once and for all.

- JLD , Oxford, 27/5/2013 11:15

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"Debbie is the unsung heroine of this story because she was the first woman in the Bertrand family to attempt preventative surgery." I believe her aunt Debbie had her ovaries removed after she was diagnosed with breast cancer.

- MaggieMay , Portland, 27/5/2013 11:06

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As much as I admire her pro-active stand- I doubt that this is an answer to cancer.We wish to control this disease, but removing possibly affected organs will bring a lot of imbalance to our bodies.Shouldn't we start to look at the factors that activate these genes, and change those? Also, this kind of operation has a very deep impact on our body as well as on our psyche, and I'm not sure if 'playing it down' to a couple of minore scars, and having plenty of energy already after 4 days of surgery, will help other women who don't have the means Angelina has.It also sounds like running through something that actually has lifelong consequences. As for her aunt, I can only pray for her, but I do wonder why this has to be a news story. I also would think it to be wise to look at the many doctors who oppose this kind of operation, and why.

- serene , The Hague, Netherlands, 27/5/2013 10:46

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What a foolish statement - Angelina gave an account of her story to TIME magazine which will help educate others, Michelle has done this also but to more magazines - if both their stories save a handful of lives I believe it is a positive move............If it was your trauma or happened to someone you love Im sure you wouldnt have made this statement. RIP, but she's starting to look like Michelle Heaton to me. Stop selling your trauma. - Confessed Cynic , London, United Kingdom, 27/5/2013 09:57

- Eva , Ireland, 27/5/2013 10:22

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What about Shiloh and Vivienne? They may be carriers of the gene also.

- Dandelion , Derry, United Kingdom, 27/5/2013 10:19

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RIP, but she's starting to look like Michelle Heaton to me. Stop selling your trauma.

- Confessed Cynic , London, United Kingdom, 27/5/2013 09:57

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She can freeze her eggs, and hire a surrogate...so no, more Jolie-Pitletts are possible...

- dyspraxicrose , brighton, United Kingdom, 27/5/2013 09:41

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The girls in that family have a big problem with that nasty BRAC gene. Best wishes to Angie.

- Lucianne , Over Here, United States, 26/5/2013 22:38

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Agatha King, Toronto. I've had two members of my family, who asked not to be sustained on any life support. They didn't want to suffer, and wanted to be free to go to God. At the end of the day, didn't God still make the decision whether to take their life or not???

- Lark , W. Orange, 26/5/2013 22:35

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