'How could she die?' Vicki Gunvalson collapses in grief after learning of her mother's death at a party on RHOC

By MailOnline Reporter

Published: 08:33 EST, 7 July 2015 | Updated: 11:08 EST, 7 July 2015

We’re used to petty squabbles and catfights on The Real Housewives of Orange County - but on Monday’s episode the emotion was raw.

Vicki Gunvalson collapsed to the floor after learning that her mother had died.

Although the exact cause of death was not described it appeared to be a sudden and unforeseen medical condition.

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Shocking news: Vicki Gunvalson collapsed to the floor after learning that her mother had died

Vicki, 53, had spoken to her apparently healthy mother earlier in the day. Then, at a games party thrown by her friend Shannon Beador, she received the shocking news via a phone call from her daughter Briana.

‘What do you mean? What happened? No,’ Vicki gasped into the receiver.

‘Briana, I can't do this,’ she moaned, before falling onto the kitchen floor in the fetal position.

‘Oh, my God. I don't want to believe this,’ she wailed in the gut-wrenching scene which was shot in February of this year.

Floored: Vicki's daughter Briana broke the news of her mother's sudden and unexpected passing

Dramatic scenes: It was reported that Vicki’s mother Joanne Steinmetz died at age 83 on February 5

Interruption: The 53-year-old star was at a games party thrown by her friend Shannon Beador when she got the call

It was reported that Vicki’s mother Joanne Steinmetz died at age 83 on February 5.

At the time Vicki, an insurance executive, posted some messages to social media: ‘You were so healthy and so vibrant and so beautiful. I still need you. I love you mom,’ she wrote.

Monday’s episode exposed her sorrow at its most raw.

‘Briana I don’t even want believe this. How could she have died?’ wept the distraught RHOC veteran to her daughter. 

Breaking down: Vicki, who lost her father William Steinmetz to Alzheimer’s in 1997, was inconsolable

Comfort: Shannon was there with a hug when Vicki was still in shock

'This group is not perfect. We fight sometimes. But when push comes to shove we are friends,' said Heather Dubrow, 46

‘She wasn’t sick at all. Oh God….Da*m it. My mom just died. I just talked to her this morning. I gotta get home,’ she sobbed to the other women

‘She wasn’t sick at all. Oh God….Da*m it. My mom just died. I just talked to her this morning. I gotta get home,’ she sobbed to the other women.

‘I gotta see my mom. I just talked to her. Why did she die? I want my mom back. I want my mom here. I want to be with my mom…I just talked to her, she was fine,’ she gabbled in disbelief.

Vicki, who lost her father William Steinmetz to Alzheimer’s in 1997, was inconsolable.

After a divorce and a series of messy relationships Vicki was also coping with her boyfriend Brook Ayers - who had cancer. 

Support: On the phone to her brother William Vicki still appeared in shock: 'Billy where is mom? Make her wake up, I don’t understand,'

Rallying round: The other ladies were visibly upset at seeing their friend in so much distress

Loving bond: The star was particularly close to her mother - who appeared on the show but was never named

‘How can she die on me? Who is going to worry about me now? I need her right now. I don’t have parents now. Who doesn’t have parents? I need my parents. I need my mom,’ she sobbed.

On the phone to her brother William she still appeared in shock: ‘Billy where is mom? Make her wake up, I don’t understand,’ she howled.

He replied: ‘I knew something was wrong. I ran upstairs and I tried to shake her to wake up. And she didn’t wake up. Oh my God Vicki. I don’t know. I lost my best friend. I don’t know,’ he said.

Usually known for their bitchiness the other women pulled together to support Vicki.

‘This group is not perfect. We fight sometimes. But when push comes to shove we are friends,’ said attractive brunette Heather Dubrow, 46.

Stressful time: The show had opened with Meghan Edmonds complaining about the stresses of moving house 'yet again'

Even Meghan Edmonds and Shannon Beador managed to put their differences aside for the time being.

The show had opened with Meghan complaining about the stresses of moving house ‘yet again’

‘I had no idea how much cr*p we have,’ she moaned as she perused a multitude of boxes.

‘I’m fully stressed out,’ harped the former model, who is the third wife of former MLB star and FOX Sports announcer Jim Edmonds.

Jim refused to lift a finger – leaving his leggy blonde wife to do the work. 

The former model, who is the third wife of former MLB star and FOX Sports announcer Jim Edmonds, shared a kiss with her hubby

Rocking the boat: Meghan, 38, recently caused a feud by not inviting Shannon Beador, 51, to her charity party

‘There’s never any compliments when people are moving,’ she sighed, as her assistant rushed around her busily.

The statuesque RHOC newcomer, 38, recently caused a feud by not inviting Shannon Beador, 51, to her charity party.

After their explosive bust up Shannon extended an ‘olive branch’ by inviting Meghan to her games soiree with ‘the girls’.

Patching things up: After their explosive bust up Shannon extended an 'olive branch' by inviting Meghan to her games soiree with 'the girls'

Thinking about it: Meghan, who has been married and divorced once before, was less than thrilled and said she’d ‘get back’ to her with an answer

Tense: 'Why am I explaining myself to a 30-year-old?' Shannon asked herself as she hung up the phone

However, her olive branch was glazed with passive aggressive sentiment.

‘I hear you had a good party,’ scoffed Shannon bitterly down the phone.

Meghan, who has been married and divorced once before, was less than thrilled and said she’d ‘get back’ to her with an answer.

‘Why am I explaining myself to a 30-year-old?’ Shannon asked herself as she hung up the phone.

Relaxing: Before her bad news arrived Vicki had discussed being a grandmother over champagne with Tamra at a spa

‘The ball’s on that a**hole,’ she mumbled, but later Meghan decided to accept the offer and attend the games night.

Before her bad news arrived Vicki had discussed being a grandmother over champagne with Tamra at a spa.

‘I’m not going to wear granny panties,’ announced Tamra, 46, a self-confessed ‘boob job addict’ and fitness coach/businesswoman.

Next week the drama continues on the RHOC on Bravo.

Big loss: The Bravo show commemorated Vicki's mom with a photo collage 

Vicki Gunvalson at the 2012 MTV Music Video Awards

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