Nancy Maryanne Dow died May 25, 2016 survived by her son assistant director John Melick, daughter actress Jennifer Aniston, daughter-in-law Shannon Melick, son-in-law screenwriter/actor Justin Theroux, and granddaughter Eilish Melick. Her daughter Jennifer made the announcement through PEOPLE magazine stating, "It is with great sadness that my brother John, and I announce the passing of our mother, Nancy Dow. She was 79-years old and passed peacefully surrounded by family and friends after enduring a long illness," said the actress in a statement adding, "We ask that our family's privacy be respected as we grieve our loss." Dow suffered from a stroke back in 2011 followed by a second stroke a year later in 2012, according to multiple reports. In October of 2011 Nancy suffered from a severe stroke, and was admitted to a hospital in Los Angeles, California. Upon being discharged she was spotted being aided by a hospice nurse and using a cane for support. Not only was she reported having difficulty with her speech as a result of the stroke, but Nancy was also having problems with her mobility. That week when she was asked how she was feeling she was barely audible as she responded, "I'm okay," unable to say any more. September of 2011 Jennifer rushed to her ailing mother's bedside accompanied by her then-boyfriend now-husband screenwriter/actor Justin Theroux to the hospital. A source said, "Nancy gets tired very easily and her speech is still impaired. She has people looking after her round the clock, but at her age its a slow road to recovery. December of 2012 Nancy is hospitalized again upon suffering from a second stroke in 15-months. It was reported that between strokes Nancy suffered from a number of injuries since. In fact, she broke her hip as well as bruised her shoulder after a
recent spill that year, according to an insider.
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| (2011) Nancy Dow aided by a hospice nurse picking up her prescription from a CVS Pharmacy |
The effects from her
first stroke limited her physical movements so severely that she now
requires 24-hour care. Fortunately her health scare is much less serious
than her previous one in 2011. "Luckily, this one was minor," said
Jennifer, "She went to the hospital, but she's already back home. But
she's having trouble talking and is still just shuffling around." Dow's
health remained precarious. A source said, "It could get worse, and the
family fears it may not be long until a bigger stroke comes along." Despite her estrangement from her mother, Jennifer has not forgotten about her mother in her time of need. "I'm paying her medical bills," said the actress, "so I'm involved to an extent in my mom's life and well-being, and we're getting friendlier than years ago." Nancy, a mother of two was married to band leader John "Jack" T. Melick from 1956-1961, and later married soap opera star John Aniston from 1965-1980, and divorced when Jennifer was 9-years old. Nancy was born July 22, 1936 in New York City, New York to parents, father Gordon McLean Dow, and mother Louise Grieco. She was the fourth of six children with five sisters Joan Dow (who passed away from cancer in 2014), Jean Dow, Linda Dow, Martha Dow and Sally Dow. Nancy and her daughter Jennifer were estranged for nine years after Dow did a tell-all interview on '
Hardcopy' revealing details about Jennifer's upbringing, and her fame on '90s television sitcom '
Friends'. Her relationship with her daughter became even more strained after Nancy wrote a memoir revealing more private details, entitled '
From Mother and Daughter to Friends' in 1999. However, in 2005 after her daughter's highly publicized divorce from film actor Brad Pitt, she and her mother reportedly reconciled. Jennifer described the gradual process of her new relationship with her mother, "It's been really nice. It's crazy what, you know, your life kind of being turned upside down will lead you to. For us [Jennifer & Nancy] - it was the time and it was going to happen when it was supposed to happen. So this is good. It's baby steps." In an earlier interview with The Hollywood Reporter magazine, back in January of 2015, Jennifer described her mother as being, "gorgeous, stunning" though she was also "very critical". Aniston admitted that they did not always enjoy the easiest relationship. But more recently, she added, "We're all fine."
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