Johannah (Image via Twitter) Johannah Deakin in the 2016 Memorials Photo Gallery Enlarged Photo


Johannah Deakin, mother of One Direction star Louis Tomlinson, died on Wednesday, December 7, 2016,

following a battle with leukemia.

She was 43.

Deakin was the mother of seven children, of whom singer-songwriter Louis Tomlinson was the oldest.

Deakin had been employed as a midwife and a televison production assistant, and was devoted to charitable causes.

"Incredibly selfless, she would always look to put other people before herself.

She desired nothing more than for everyone around her to be happy and loving," said Deakin's husband, Dan Deakin, in a statement.

"I thoroughly loved walking through life with her, and though five years was far too short a time, during that time we had so many lifetimes worth of happiness, adventures, and memories."

Deakin is survived her husband, Dan Deakin; children Louis , Lottie, Félicité, Phoebe, Daisy, Ernest and Doris; and a grandson, Freddie.

The family has requested "time and space to grieve in private."
∼“It is with immeasurable sadness that Johannah Deakin’s family said goodbye to Johannah in the early hours of Wednesday, Dec. 7,” the family said in a statement. “Earlier this year Johannah was diagnosed with a very aggressive form of leukemia that required immediate and continuous treatment. We respectfully request that the family are given time and space to grieve in private.”

“Johannah was first and foremost a truly amazing mother to seven children – Louis, Lottie, Félicité, and two sets of twins, Phoebe and Daisy and Ernest and Doris — whose individual talents and success are testament to the principles and beliefs she instilled in them,” Deakin’s husband Dan Deakin said in a statement. “She was also an incredibly proud grandmother to [Louis’ son] Freddie.”

“Incredibly selfless, she would always look to put other people before herself,” Dan continued. “She desired nothing more than for everyone around her to be happy and loving. She worked tirelessly on numerous charity campaigns, creating memories for many individuals and their families. It wasn’t uncommon for Johannah to hear through the media of an individual in need of assistance, and she would immediately make it her objective to get that person what they often desperately needed, and rarely without success. These are the things that made Johannah happy and content in life, and all of which for me made her simply the perfect wife and best friend to face each day with. I thoroughly loved walking through life with her, and though five years was far too short a time, during that time we had so many lifetimes worth of happiness, adventures, and memories.

“We would like to send our sincere thanks to Professor Steve Mackinnon and his team at University College London Hospital where Johannah was hospitalized since May,” he said. “And during the last few weeks Professor John Snowden and his colleagues at Royal Hallamshire Hospital Sheffield.”

Her son Louis Tomlinson, 24, will go through with his previously scheduled appearance on The X Factor on Saturday as her final wish.

According to a source, Deakin, a midwife, had been looking forward to Tomlinson’s appearance on the stage where he first found fame with his One Direction band mates — and told PEOPLE that Tomlinson decided to proceed with the appearance in her honor.

Tomlinson and Deakin were extremely close and she was thrilled, a source said, by the birth of his son Freddie Reign in January.

“My mother looking gorgeous before the BRITS earlier this year,” he captioned an Instagram shot of them posted on Nov. 18. “I love you and miss you so much!”

As news broke of her death, Tomlinson’s friends and fans reached out on social media with messages of support.

Source: People.com 12/9/16