Mariah Carey’s older sister, Alison Carey, revealed in the days before her death a great need to heal their damaged connection. Her last plea, however, went unheard, casting a terrible question mark over the sisters’ complicated relationship.
Even in her last days, Mariah Carey’s sister Alison clung to hope for a reconciliation with her world-class sibling.
Alison, age 68, has a lifetime of difficulties. She battled emotional upheaval, financial difficulties, and major medical problems. She never gave up on restoring her broken relationship with Mariah, though.
Alison’s thoughts constantly drifted to the prospect of one more chat with Mariah as she lay on her deathbed in a small apartment in Coxsackie, New York.
Alison had spent the last month of her life in hospice care, said her friend and healthcare proxy. She was encircled with the awareness of time running short. David said Alison’s family members knew about her illness. Mariah never contacted her dying sister despite the terrible situation.
Though her sentiments about their mother were always mixed, David told the Daily Mail that Alison was severely depressed by the abuse she experienced from both her mother and sister. “Alison always had mixed feelings about her mother,” he said, “but the way she was treated by her mother and Mariah hurt her.”
Alison held one last hope, that Mariah might reach out before it was too late, despite the emotional scars. “I know it was her dying wish if she could have at least had a conversation with Mariah,” David said, stressing the great longing unmet.
Mariah Carey’s relationship with her sister Alison was fractured and painful. The pop star disclosed in her memoir that, at least temporarily, it was physically and emotionally safer for her to be away from Alison and their brother, Morgan.
Their divide was an emotional gulf ingrained in years of anguish, not only a physical one. Their distance grew more pronounced in 2020 when Alison sued Mariah $1.25 million claiming defamation.
Mariah stated in her book that Alison had drugged her at twelve and even inflicted third-degree burns. The lawsuit’s result is yet unknown, and Mariah’s spokesman refrained from saying anything about it.
Alison endured a difficult life full of suffering. Though she was a native of Huntington, Long Island, Alison had lived in Greene County in recent years. From homelessness to battling drug use disorder, her challenges were well documented.
In 2015, tragedy struck when she became the victim of a violent home invasion on Long Island, suffering a brain injury and short-term memory loss after an intruder struck her in the head with a baseball bat. Alison’s friend, David, recalled how she spent just a month in a medical facility before transitioning to an apartment in Greene County.
Determined to regain her independence, Alison fought for her Social Security benefits, eventually earning her monthly payments, and securing a back payment of $684 after proving that she was no longer in a facility.
Alison was able to see her kids in her last hours. David recounted how some of Alison’s children were seeing their mother for the first time in years, and the joy she felt during those final moments was palpable. Though Alison’s life had been full of hardships, in those times she discovered some calm surrounded by family.
Monday’s public confirmation of Alison’s death came from Mariah In a heartbreaking turn of events, the celebrated singer lost not one, but two cherished family members on the same day. “My heart is broken that I lost my mother this past weekend,” she shared, letting fans in on the immense sadness weighing on her.
She proceeded. “Sadly, in a tragic turn of events, my sister lost her life on the same day.” While the singer has been a beacon of light and strength for millions through her music, this personal sorrow is one of her darkest moments.
The causes of death for both Patricia and Alison remain unknown leaving a cloud of mystery around this devastating family tragedy.
Yet, even in the midst of this profound grief, Mariah found solace in the final days spent with her mother, honoring the bond they shared. “I feel blessed that I was able to spend the last week with my mom before she passed,” she said. “I appreciate everyone’s love and support and respect for my privacy during this impossible time,” she added.
Patricia was a celebrated Juilliard-trained opera singer and vocal coach. She passed on her extraordinary musical gifts to her daughter. Mariah’s unmistakable five-octave range and powerful voice can be traced directly back to her mother’s operatic roots.
However, their relationship was far from perfect. Mariah’s bond with Patricia was as complicated as it was meaningful. In her 2020 memoir, “The Meaning of Mariah Carey,” the singer candidly peeled back the layers of their connection.
She described it as a journey full of contradictions and competing realities—a mixture of emotions that could never be reduced to simple black and white. “It’s been a whole rainbow of emotions,” she wrote, hinting at the depth and complexity that defined their dynamic.
Mariah poetically captured the essence of their relationship as a “prickly rope of pride, pain, shame, gratitude, jealousy, admiration, and disappointment.” Despite the struggles, the love between them ran deep.
In 2010, the mother-daughter duo joined forces for a heartwarming performance during “Mariah Carey: Merry Christmas to You” on ABC, delivering a stirring rendition of “O Come All Ye Faithful/Hallelujah Chorus.” It was a rare and tender moment that showcased their shared musical heritage.
Mariah’s love for her mother, despite the thorns, remained unwavering. Even amid their complicated bond, Mariah always found moments to celebrate the woman who gave her life—and her voice.
In 2019, the singer took to social media to wish her mother a happy birthday, sharing a touching throwback photo of herself as a child, lovingly cradled in Patricia’s arms. Alongside the post, the singer penned a heartwarming caption, “Happy birthday to a true diva—my mom, Patricia Carey! ❤️❤️❤️.”
She even dedicated part of her memoir to Patricia, writing, “And to Pat, my mother, who, through it all, I do believe actually did the best she could. I will love you the best I can, always.”
In these words, Mariah revealed a deep reservoir of love and acceptance, acknowledging the complexities of their relationship while vowing to love her mother the best way she knew how.
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