Our thoughts are with General Hospital star James Patrick Stuart (Valentin) and his family, who have suffered a devastating loss. The actor shared that his wife Jocelyn’s mother, Barbara Stilwell, has died.
The GH star announced the sad news with social media posts on Facebook and Twitter/X. “My mother-in-law, Barbara, has passed away after a painful fight with pancreatic cancer,” he wrote, explaining that rather than having her family hold a funeral for her, Stilwell requested that her family set up a fundraiser through Arroyo Grande Community Hospital in Arroyo Grande, CA, in her honor. “She did not want a service, but instead wanted us to give [to] the Arroyo Grande Hospital Foundation for further care of others.”
The fundraiser will benefit the hospital’s Mission Hope Cancer Center and its “Day of Hope” event to benefit local cancer programs and support services for patients and families. Sharing the link to Stilwell’s page, Stuart asked his followers to donate to the worthy cause “if you are so inclined.”
Stilwell’s fundraising page also featured a quote from the late matriarch: “I wish they would do less rocket launches from Vandenberg and instead use the money for pancreatic cancer research!”
Stuart’s social media post was met with an outpouring of support from fans and co-stars who were quick to offer their condolences. “Sorry for your loss, JP,” wrote Wally Kurth (Ned). Many of the actor’s followers even shared their own heartbreaking experiences with cancer. With equal compassion, Stuart, in turn, replied to some of those messages, thanking the poster for their condolences and offering one of his own.
Stuart and his wife, a professional organizer, will celebrate their 24th wedding anniversary this September and are the proud parents of two sons, Graham and Colin. Please join us in sending our condolences to the Stuarts and the rest of Stilwell’s family during this difficult time.
