Maria Cole, wife of the late Nat King Cole and mother of Natalie Cole, has lost her battler with cancer. She was 89.

A rep for The Cole Family confirmed the news that Maria Cole passed at a Boca Raton hospice Tuesday. She was surrounded by her family at the time of her death.

Maria married Nat King Cole in 1948. And even though Nat was a household name for his  sultry voice, Maria  was also an artist as well.  Not only was she a famed piano player, but she also performed with the great  Duke Ellington.

Maria’s children -Natalie, Timolin and Casey Cole- released a  joint statement saying, “Our mom was in a class all by herself. She epitomized, class, elegance, and truly defined what it is to be a real lady. … She died how she lived – with great strength, courage and dignity, surrounded by her loving family.”

Private funeral services for Maria Cole will be held in Glendale, California.

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