Gemma Collins has said her grief is hitting her like waves after the death of her beloved mother, Joan. The former TOWIE star, 45, took to Instagram on Wednesday evening to share Joan had passed away aged 70, just a month after being admitted to hospital with pneumonia. Taking to Instagram on Friday, Gemma shared a photo of her shrine in honour of her mother, which included flowers, lit candles and photographs. She wrote: ‘Grief is the price we pay for love. ‘Thank you from the bottom of my heart for every message, every prayer, every kind word. I’m reading them all and getting back to everyone slowly. Please bear with me. Some moments I feel okay, and then it comes in waves.’One beautiful thing keeps happening. A butterfly has been with me constantly, appearing wherever I go. It brings me a sense of peace, and in my heart I truly feel it’s my mum letting me know she’s close, watching over me, and reminding me that love never really leaves us. Gemma Collins has said her grief is hitting her like waves after the death of her beloved mother, Joan The former TOWIE star, 45, took to Instagram on Wednesday evening to share Joan had passed away aged 70, just a month after being admitted to hospital with pneumoniaJesy Nelson wrote in the comments: ‘Sending love to you my angel’.Others wrote: ‘Sending all my love to you and your family’ and ‘We laughed, we cried, we remembered and know we won’t forget’.Joan battled pneumonia twice in the last six months of her life. She was admitted to hospital last month, with Gemma writing at the time: ‘Sending my mummy so much love she has caught Pneumonia.’ Her cause of death has not been revealed. Gemma penned in her tribute to her mum as she announced her death: ‘My heart is shattered into a million pieces. Today our beautiful mum passed away peacefully surrounded by LOVE. Mum, Today, every piece of my heart left with you.’No words will ever be enough to thank you for loving me, guiding me, and being my mum. You gave me life, you gave me strength, and you gave me memories that I will carry for every day I have left.’The house will never sound the same without you. Your voice, your smile, your little ways, they are woven into every corner of my life. I will miss you more than I could ever put into words.’I hope you are finally free from pain. I hope you can walk again, laugh again, and feel light. I hope you are surrounded by peace and by everyone who has gone before you, watching over us with love. She wrote: ‘Grief is the price we pay for love. ‘Thank you from the bottom of my heart for every message, every prayer, every kind word’ Gemma announced on Instagram on Wednesday that her mum Joan passed away ‘peacefully’ and ‘surrounded by love’ Joan battled pneumonia twice in the last six months of her life. She was admitted to hospital last month ‘Thank you for every hug, every sacrifice, every lesson, and every moment. Thank you for being my mum. It has been the greatest privilege to be your daughter.’Until we meet again, I will carry your love with me. I will look for you in the sunrise, in the flowers, in the birds singing, and in the quiet moments when I need you most. Sleep peacefully, my beautiful Mum.’You will be loved forever, missed every single day, and never, ever forgotten. Gemma.’Gemma’s mother has battled with ill health in recent years, in December 2025, she was admitted to Broomfield Hospital, Chelmsford, Essex, after contracting pneumonia but she made a recovery after five weeks.In March 2020, she was hospitalised with pneumonia for the first time.In 2024, Joan was in intensive care after she stopped breathing. The health scare left Gemma fearing the worst after Joan made an emergency dash to the hospital.She told The Sun newspaper at the time: ‘I’ve had a lot of stress the last couple of weeks.’My mum was suddenly taken into hospital and I was told she could die. They would not resuscitate her if she went into cardiac arrest.’So imagine that, you know, I’m in the hospital having been out for dinner the day before, and then the next day I’m like, ‘Wow,’ so that was a massive shock.’Joan, a former hairdresser, was well-loved by TOWIE fans and made several appearances on the show.In 2024, Joan also appeared on Gemma’s episode of Who Do You Think You Are? which delved into their family past. The episode traced the story of her mother Joan’s biological mother who was forced to give her up to a foster family. Joan had lived most of her life thinking that her mother – also called Joan – had abandoned her. But Gemma and the team on the show discovered she may have been forced to give up her daughter amid misdiagnosed mental health problems.