Kimberly Williams-Paisley’s (wife to Brad Paisley) mother tragically lost her life Wednesday Nov.16 after a courageous battle with dementia at the age of 73 years old.
The Father of the Bride actress confirmed the news on her Instagram through a heartbreaking caption, “I will remember you this way, Mom. Rest in love and peace. Linda Williams: June 22nd, 1943-November 16, 2016 #endalz”.
Linda Payne Williams worked as a foreign correspondent before transitioning into the position of director of principal gifts at Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center in New York City. Later on, she again switched up her career path to dedicate the remainder of her life to searching for a cure to Parkinson’s disease.
Husband to Linda, Gurney Williams, cared for her around the clock before her disease progressed and she was placed within a long-term care facility in 2012. He shared with PEOPLE that he wished they had received the diagnosis 20 years prior to have the chance to prepare for the difficult road ahead.
“Now I know that preparation back then would have lessened the burden weighing on my family in recent years,” he shared. “My hope is that readers at any age – including those recently diagnosed and their caregivers – will act on some of these ideas while it’s still possible.”
She worked diligently for the Michael J. Fox Foundation, assisting in the raising of millions of dollars before she received the heartbreaking diagnosis that she was suffering from primary progressive aphasia, a neurodegenerative disease associated with Alzheimer’s disease. Of the top ten causes of death in America, Alzheimer’s is the only one that cannot be prevented, cured, or even slowed down.
“She started showing signs when she was 59 and it took a few years to figure it all out,” Williams-Paisley told PEOPLE magazine. In the aftermath of Williams’ death, son-in-law, Brad Paisley posted a photo his Facebook in remembrance of his late mother-in-law.
“We are so touched by the outpouring of sympathy for Kim’s mom,” Paisley wrote. “Thank you all. After her long battle with this terrible disease, she is free.”
Williams left behind a loving husband, sister, three children, and five grandchildren. The family currently struck by grief has asked those wishing to send their condolences to make donations to Alzheimer’s Association or the Michael J. Fox Foundation for Parkinson’s Research.