Adelia "Ada" Zeidler, the elder sister of Hollywood superstar George Clooney, has passed away. She was 65 years old. The sad news was confirmed by her family, stating she died on Friday, 19 December, after a courageous battle with cancer.
A Peaceful Farewell and a Brother's Tribute
Ada Zeidler breathed her last at St. Elizabeth Healthcare in Edgewood, Kentucky. Her obituary notes she was surrounded by her close family and loved ones at the time of her passing, which was peaceful.
In an emotional statement to People magazine, her grieving brother, George Clooney, paid a heartfelt tribute. "My sister, Ada, was my hero," he said. The actor added, "She faced down cancer with courage and humor. I've never met anyone so brave. Amal and I will miss her terribly." His words paint a picture of a woman who met her greatest challenge with remarkable strength.
The Life of Ada Zeidler: Artist, Educator, and Private Soul
Born on 2 May, 1960, in Los Angeles, Ada was the daughter of journalist Nick Clooney and writer Nina Bruce Warren. She carried the name of her great-grandmother, a cherished family detail.
Described as a gifted artist and dedicated educator, Ada spent several years shaping young minds as an elementary art teacher at Augusta Independent School. Her intellectual prowess was evident early on; she qualified as a National Merit Scholar during her high school years.
An active member of her community, she was part of a local book club and the Augusta Art Guild. Her love for her small Kentucky town was celebrated when she served as the grand marshal of Augusta's Annual White Christmas Parade. Despite her famous lineage, Ada chose a life away from the limelight. She attended college in Louisville and Northern Kentucky and worked as a bookkeeper, valuing privacy and steady work.
Love, Loss, and a Close-Knit Community
Ada's personal life was marked by deep love and profound loss. She married retired Army captain Norman Zeidler on 14 March, 1987, in a wedding that became a town affair in Augusta. Reports from the Kentucky Photo Archive suggest nearly the entire community attended.
The ceremony was a family affair. Her brother, George Clooney, read scripture, and their legendary aunt, singer Rosemary Clooney, performed a romantic song for the newlyweds. Her mother, Nina, once recalled how the whole town helped, making it a collective celebration.
Tragedy struck when Norman died of a heart attack on 11 October, 2004, a loss that deeply affected Ada. In her later years, she made few public appearances, one notable exception being her brother's lavish wedding to human rights lawyer Amal Clooney in Venice in 2014.
Ada Zeidler is survived by her parents, her children Nick Zeidler and Allison Zeidler Herolaga (and her husband Kenny), her brother George and sister-in-law Amal, and a large extended family. A funeral service was held on Monday, 22 December. In lieu of flowers, the family has requested memorial donations be made to the Knoedler Memorial Library in Augusta.
