When you think of Della Reese, you probably picture Tess from Touched by an Angel. She had that voice—deep, comforting, and authoritative—that felt like a warm hug from a grandmother who wouldn’t take any of your nonsense. But behind that "angelic" persona on screen, Della lived through a series of personal tragedies that would have broken most people. The most crushing blow came in 2002. That was the year Della Reese daughter dies, an event that fundamentally changed the actress and turned her into a fierce advocate for a medical condition almost nobody was talking about at the time.
Deloreese Elizabeth Daniels Owens, whom Della affectionately called "Dumpsey," wasn't just her daughter; she was her namesake. Della’s birth name was actually Delloreese Patricia Early. Deloreese was adopted by Della in 1961 from a family member who wasn't in a position to care for the child. From that moment on, they were inseparable.
The Medical Mystery Nobody Saw Coming
For years, Deloreese struggled with her health, but it wasn't the kind of illness that made headlines. It was subtle. It was confusing. Honestly, even the doctors seemed a bit stumped for a while.
Deloreese suffered from a pituitary gland dysfunction. If you aren't a biology major, the pituitary is basically the "master gland." It’s tiny, about the size of a pea, sitting at the base of your brain, but it runs the whole show. It controls your growth, your metabolism, and—crucially for Deloreese—your immune system.
By the time she reached her early 40s, the gland had basically quit on her. Della later described it in interviews as if her daughter’s "internal engine" just stopped working. Because the pituitary wasn't sending the right signals, Deloreese’s body couldn't fight off even the most basic threats.
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March 14, 2002: The Day Everything Changed
The end came with a speed that was absolutely terrifying. Deloreese had caught what seemed like a standard, run-of-the-mill cold. For most of us, that's a week of Kleenex and chicken soup. But for someone with a non-functioning pituitary gland, it was a death sentence.
Her immune system offered zero resistance. On March 14, 2002, Deloreese passed away at her home in the Los Angeles area. She was only 41 years old.
Imagine being Della Reese at that moment. She was 70. She had spent nearly a decade playing a character whose entire job was to explain God's plan and offer comfort to the grieving. Now, she was the one standing in the dark, wondering how a simple cold could take her daughter.
Why Della Reese Daughter Dies Still Matters Today
The reason this story still resonates—and why people still search for details about how Della Reese daughter dies—is because of what Della did next. She didn't just retreat into her grief.
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She got angry. Well, maybe "frustrated" is the softer word, but she was definitely on a mission. She realized that even with all her money and fame, she hadn't been able to save her daughter because there was so little public awareness about pituitary disorders.
Della teamed up with the Pituitary Network Association. She started talking about things like Cushing’s disease and pituitary tumors. She used her platform to tell people: "If you feel 'off' and your doctor can’t find it in a blood test, keep looking."
- The "Invisible" Illness: Pituitary issues often mimic other things—depression, weight gain, or just general fatigue.
- The Diagnostic Gap: It can take years for patients to get a correct diagnosis because the symptoms are so fragmented.
- The Legacy: Deloreese's death became the catalyst for Della to fund research and awareness campaigns that arguably saved lives.
A Mother’s Grief and a Legacy of Faith
Della was an ordained minister, but she was also human. She admitted that losing "Dumpsey" was the hardest test of her faith she ever faced. It's one thing to tell a guest star on a TV show that "God loves you" when they're crying; it's another thing to say it to yourself when you're burying your child.
Interestingly, her co-star Roma Downey became a huge support system during this time. Roma has often said that Della was like a mother to her, especially since Roma had lost her own mother at a young age. In a way, the bond they shared on Touched by an Angel was forged in the real-world fire of Della losing her biological connection to the next generation.
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What We Can Learn From Deloreese's Story
If you're reading this because you're a fan of Della or because you're dealing with a mysterious health issue yourself, there are real takeaways here. Deloreese’s story isn't just a sad Hollywood footnote.
- Trust Your Gut with Endocrine Health: If you have chronic fatigue, weird weight shifts, or persistent infections, ask your doctor to check your hormone levels specifically. A standard "wellness panel" doesn't always catch pituitary issues.
- The Master Gland Matters: Understand that your immune system isn't a standalone thing; it’s part of a delicate chemical balance.
- Grief Can Be Productive: Della showed us that you can take the most senseless tragedy—like a 41-year-old dying from a cold—and turn it into a megaphone for change.
Della Reese eventually passed away in 2017 at the age of 86. While she lived a long, full life, those who knew her best said she never truly "got over" the loss of Deloreese. She just learned how to carry it.
If you suspect you or a loved one might be dealing with hormonal or "invisible" symptoms, don't settle for "you're just stressed." Request a referral to an endocrinologist. It’s the specific type of specialist that deals with the pituitary gland, and it’s the exact expertise Della Reese spent her final years trying to make accessible to everyone.