"She was the youngest of ten just like me, so we had that special bond together," the former White Stripes frontman wrote on Instagram
Credit: Gilbert Flores/Billboard via Getty
NEED TO KNOW
- Jack White shared heartfelt tributes to his mother Teresa Gillis, who passed away at age 95
- Gillis, a mother of 10, shared a “special bond” with White as they were both the youngest of their families
- White’s ex-wife Karen Elson and friend Jack Black offered their condolences in the comments of his posts
Jack White shared a heartfelt goodbye to his mother.
In a series of Instagram posts, the former White Stripes frontman, 50, announced that his mother, Teresa Gillis, has died at age 95. He first shared the news on Saturday, March 14.
White posted a photo of his mother standing on a stage with her arms wide open alongside the caption, "Teresa Gillis 1930-2026. Rest in peace with the Lord."
The "Seven Nation Army" singer followed his first post up with an Instagram Carousel of photos featuring him and his mom backstage and onstage over the years. From singing together to fixing her son's hair, Gillis appeared to be beside White's side throughout his career.
Credit: Jack White/Instagram
"Teresa Gillis. 1930-2026. A woman who gave so much of her love, and gave so much of herself, to her family and everyone she met. She prayed for everyone daily. She loved the song 'Don’t fence me in,' and loved jigsaw puzzles and good Polish food," he wrote.
White continued, "She smiled and laughed so much, especially in these last few days with her family, who will all miss her dearly. She was the youngest of ten just like me, so we had that special bond together on top of everything else she gave me. They really don’t make them like this anymore, and as George Jones once sang, that tough question lingers, 'Who’s gonna fill their shoes?' She was a Saint. -III"
He shared one more post on Monday, featuring a black-and-white photo of himself laughing with Gillis, alongside the caption, "And one more…"
Several of White's famous friends offered their condolences in the comments section. White's ex-wife, model Karen Elson, wrote, "May the road rise up to meet you. May the wind be always at your back. May the sun shine warm upon your face, until we meet again 💔."
Credit: Jack White/Instagram
Never miss a story — sign up for PEOPLE's free daily newsletter to stay up-to-date on the best of what PEOPLE has to offer, from celebrity news to compelling human interest stories.
Meanwhile, Jack Black commented with a simple blue heart emoji, and Bebe Buell added, "My deepest condolences 🙏 Your Momma was something special and will shine ✨ and star in your memories and dreams. We’re all walking each other home. Sending you love, JW and loved ones… ❤️."
Per The Detroit Daily News, Gillis was the mother of 10 children. She gave birth to White, her seventh son and youngest child, at age 45. She once worked as an usher at the Masonic Temple in Detroit, and later as the secretary at the Archdiocese of Detroit.
Read the full article here
