'Heroine' Behind Angelina Jolie's Double Mastectomy: 61-Year-Old Aunt Dies After Battle With Breast Cancer

Two weeks after Angelina Jolie's news of undergoing a double mastectomy, her aunt Debbie Martin passed away Sunday morning at the Palomar Hospital in Escondido, California, after a long battle with breast cancer.

"Angelina has been in touch throughout the week, and her brother, Jamie, has been with us, giving his support day by day," said Debbie's husband Ron Martin.

"[Angelina and Jamie] loved Debbie very much, and although Angie is not able to come right now, she has sent her love and support, which was very nice."

This tragedy comes on the heels of the "Mr. & Mrs. Smith" star's May 14 op-ed regarding her discovery of the BRCA1 gene, and her subsequent decision to undergo the "preventive double mastectomy."

"[BRCA1]...sharply increases my risk of developing breast cancer and ovarian cancer," wrote the 37-year-old wife and mother.

"For any woman reading this, I hope it helps you to know you have options. I want to encourage every woman, especially if you have a family history of breast or ovarian cancer, to seek out information and medical experts who can help you through this aspect of your life, and to make your own informed choices."

Martin's sister and Jolie's mother, Marcheline Bertrand, passed away in 2007 after a seven-year battle with ovarian cancer in 2007, reported People.com.

Regarding Martin's influence on Jolie, Ron called his wife a "shining example to Angelina."

"Debbie is the unsung heroine of this story because she was the first woman in the Bertrand family to attempt preventative surgery."

Before her passing, Jolie allegedly planned on having her ovaries removed following the double mastectomy.

"Life comes with many challenges," wrote the starlet.

"The ones that should not scare us are the ones we can take on and take control of."

Our thoughts go out to Debbie Martin's family.