Elaine DePrince, mother of late ballerina Michaela DePrince, died just one day after the death of her adopted daughter. The 77-year-old died on Sept. 11 “during a routine procedure” that took place within 24 hours of her daughter Michaela’s death, according to a statement posted on Facebook by family spokesperson Jessica Volinski.
“The last few days have been even more difficult than most people realize because the family has also been dealing with the death of Michaela’s adoptive mother Elaine DePrince,” Volinski wrote. Elaine had been battling “a hereditary disease and heart failure” for many years, according to the statement, and “died during a routine procedure in preparation for a surgery.” Elaine was unaware of her daughter’s death when she went in for her procedure, Volinski noted.
“As unbelievable as it may seem, the two deaths were completely unrelated,” the statement said. “The only way we can make sense of the senseless is that Elaine, who had already lost three children many years ago, was by the grace of God spared the pain of experiencing the loss of a fourth child. “What the family is going through right now is truly unimaginably painful.
Grieving two family members who died within a 24-hour period is tragic and devastating.” Michaela grew up as an orphan in Sierra Leone before being adopted by Elaine and her family and moving to the U.S.
, joining Elaine’s 11 other children — nine of whom were also adopted. Elaine enrolled Mi.