‘She was the love of my life’: Queen Latifah announces her mother Rita Owens has died after long battle with heart condition

Queen Latifah has announced that her mother died on Wednesday after a long battle with a heart condition.

The 48-year-old actress – real name Dana Elaine Owens – released a statement about mom Rita Owens’ passing to People on Thursday.

She said:  ‘It is with a heavy heart that I share the news my mother, Rita Owens passed away today.