Della Reese was the kind of person who didn't just walk into a room; she commanded it with a voice that sounded like gravel mixed with honey. Most of us remember her as Tess, the tough-love supervisor of angels on the massive CBS hit Touched by an Angel. When news broke that she had passed away, it felt like the world lost its collective grandmother. But because she had been out of the spotlight for a little while, the Della Reese death cause became a major point of conversation for fans who wanted to know how such a powerhouse finally met her end.
Honestly, her passing wasn't a sudden shock if you had been following her health journey over the previous decade. She lived a massive, loud, beautiful life for 86 years before she died peacefully at her home in Los Angeles on November 19, 2017.
The Reality Behind the Della Reese Death Cause
While many celebrity deaths are shrouded in mystery or sudden tragedy, Della's situation was more about a long, courageous battle with chronic illness. Her family never released a single, specific "smoking gun" cause of death on a formal certificate to the public, but they didn't really have to. She had been incredibly open about her struggles with Type 2 diabetes for years.
By the time she passed, her co-star and "baby girl" Roma Downey confirmed she was surrounded by family. It was peaceful. When someone is 86 and has spent nearly twenty years fighting a disease that attacks the vascular system, the body eventually just says "enough."
A Wake-Up Call on the Set
The story of how she even found out she was sick is legendary in Hollywood circles. She literally collapsed while filming Touched by an Angel. One minute she’s playing an angel, the next she’s on the floor. It turns out her blood sugar was skyrocketing into the 500s. For context, a "normal" reading is usually under 100.
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She later famously said, "I don't have Type 2 diabetes—Type 2 diabetes has me." That's a heavy way to put it. It shows how much the disease dominated her later years.
The Health Struggles Nobody Saw
People think of celebrities as invincible, but Della Reese was anything but. Long before the diabetes diagnosis, she survived a brain aneurysm in 1979. She was guest-hosting The Tonight Show for Johnny Carson and just... boom. A blood vessel burst. She had to have two brain surgeries just to stay on this planet.
You’ve gotta realize that by 2017, her body had been through the ringer:
- Two major brain surgeries.
- Decades of Type 2 diabetes management.
- The general wear and tear of a career that started in the 1950s.
In her final years, she was often seen using a wheelchair. The "angel" who used to walk onto porch steps to save souls was now the one needing a bit of help getting around.
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Why Her Death Still Resonates
It isn't just about the Della Reese death cause; it's about what she left behind. She wasn't just an actress. She was an ordained minister who started her own church (UP Church). She was a jazz singer who could out-sing almost anyone on the charts.
When Roma Downey released the statement about her death, she didn't focus on the medical details. She talked about how heaven had a "brand new angel." That’s the thing—Della Reese lived her life with so much conviction that when she died, people didn't just see a celebrity passing; they felt a spiritual shift.
Misconceptions About Her Health
Some people thought she died of a stroke because of her history with aneurysms. Others wondered if it was heart failure. While diabetes often leads to those complications, the official narrative remains that she died of natural causes precipitated by her long-standing health battles.
She was a spokesperson for the American Diabetes Association for a reason. She wanted people—especially in the Black community, where diabetes hits harder—to take the disease seriously. She used her own declining health as a teaching tool. That’s pretty brave, if you think about it.
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Lessons from Della’s Journey
If we’re looking for actionable insights from her life and passing, it’s all about proactive health management. Della admitted she didn't eat right for years while touring. She loved fried chicken and sweets, and she paid for it later in life.
If you or someone you love is dealing with similar health hurdles, here is what you can actually do, inspired by the way Della handled her own path:
- Get the A1C test. Della didn't know she was sick until she hit the floor. Routine blood work is the only way to catch Type 2 diabetes before it does permanent damage to your heart and kidneys.
- Listen to the "headaches." Before her collapse, she had massive headaches that she ignored. Your body usually whispers before it screams.
- Build a legacy beyond your job. Della was a singer and actress, but her work as a pastor gave her peace in her final days. She knew her "cause" was bigger than her "career."
Della Reese didn't let her illness define her, even when it was taking her physical strength. She worked until she couldn't, she preached until her voice gave out, and she left the stage on her own terms.
To honor her legacy today, check in on your own health markers. If you've been putting off a checkup or ignoring symptoms like extreme fatigue or blurred vision, make that appointment. Taking control of your health is the best way to ensure you have as many years as possible to make your own mark, just like Tess did.