Rona Newton-John Dies, Olivia Mourns

Actress Olivia Newton-John, right, poses with her sister, Rona Newton-John, at a cocktail reception before the 10th Annual Human Rights Campaign Gala in Los Angeles, Calif., on Feb. 17, 2001. Photo by Newsmakers

Rona Newton-John dies of brain cancer: The older sister of singer and actress Olivia Newton-John died on May 24th of brain cancer, Newton-John announced on May 29.

“My beautiful sister Rona sadly passed on May 24th in Los Angeles. It was May 25th in Australia—which was our mother Irene’s birthday,” Newton-John wrote on her Facebook page. “Rona died of a very aggressive brain tumor and mercifully suffered no pain. She was surrounded by the love of her four children—Fiona, Brett, Tottie, and Emerson and, her wonderful friends.”