Desiree S. Anzalone, who was the only granddaughter of the famous I Love Lucy actress Lucille Ball, has died at the age of 31.
Her family confirmed the heartbreaking news that Desiree, who was first diagnosed at the age of 25 and underwent a double mastectomy and chemotherapy treatment, has lost her fight to cancer.
Lucille granddaughter was in remission but in 2018 discovered that the cancer had progressed to Stage four and spread to her liver, lungs and bones.
Lucille Ball died in 1989 after suffering an abdominal aortic aneurysm.
Sharing the news of her tragic death, Desiree’s mother Julie paid tribute to her ‘special little girl’ in an emotional statement.
Desiree S. Anzalone – Lucille Ball’s only granddaughter dies aged 31 of cancer (Image: Instagram)
Julia told People magazine : “Watching her slip away was just, I wouldn’t wish it on my worst enemy.
“No mother should have to watch that,” she added.
Her mother, who described Desiree as ‘so special’, confirmed that she died on September 27 of this year.
Julia said: “All our children are special, but this little girl was something else.
“We were [best friends]. We are still.”
Lucille Ball receiving a hug from her husband, Cuban-born bandleader and singer Desi Arnaz (Image: Getty Images)
Lucille married and had children with her co-star on I Love Lucy Desi Arnaz Sr, who Desiree is named after.
Lucille and Desi named their son Desi Arnaz Jr and the name was passed down to his daughter Julie’s child Desiree.
Back in 2019, Desiree said she felt her actress grandmother would have been proud of her.
She said she believed that “Lucy and I share the same gumption in regards to my fight with stage 4 breast cancer”.
Sadly, due to coronavirus social-distancing restrictions, Desiree’s mum Julie wasn’t able to see her poorly daughter as much as she’d like to in her final months this year.
“The COVID-19 kept us apart,” explained Julie. “I wasn’t able to see her as much as I usually do because she was compromised and I didn’t want her getting sick in any kind of way.
“So I wasn’t able to spend as much time with her as I normally do because of the COVID since March.
“I mean, I saw her, but not as much; we’d hang out every day practically she was here. Plus, she lived with me for a while.”
Source: Celebrities - dailystar.co.uk
