George Clooney’s Sister Adelia Zeidler Dead at 65

George Clooney‘s sister Adelia “Ada” Zeidler has died … and, the star has memorialized her with a heartfelt statement.

Zeidler passed away from cancer on Friday, the actor confirmed to People … and, her online obituary states she passed away at a hospital in Edgewood, Kentucky surrounded by loved ones.

In a statement to People, Clooney said, “My sister, Ada, was my hero. She faced down cancer with courage and humor. I’ve never met anyone so brave. Amal and I will miss her terribly.”

Zeidler was born May 2, 1960 … a little more than a year before her little bro Geroge. She worked as an elementary school art teacher in Augusta, KY for many years.

She married retired army captain Norman Zeidler in 1987 … and, George reportedly read scripture during the ceremony while their aunt, Rosemary Clooney, sang a romantic song. Norman passed away in 2004.

While Ada was not often in the public eye, she did attend her brother’s star-studded wedding to Amal Alamuddin — now Amal Clooney — in 2014.

Ada’s survived by her children, Nick Zeidler and Allison Zeidler Herolaga and her husband, Kenny. She was 65.