It was an emotional Thanksgiving for Jennifer Garner — and she was thankful to have daughter Violet Affleck by her side.
While the Yale University student, 19, returned home to Los Angeles from the East Coast for the holidays, she and her mom, 52, unexpectedly said goodbye to their beloved golden retriever Birdie in late November.
The 13 Continues 30 star was devastated by the sudden death of the family dog at age 9, but having Violet — one of Birdie’s favorite people — around over the weekend made things a lot easier, a source tells PEOPLE.
Garner is “heartbroken,” but “it helped that Violet came home from college,” the source says, noting that the family had a “lovely Thanksgiving.”
The actress spent the holiday with ex Ben Affleck and their three children – Violet, Seraphina (15) and Samuel (12).
Jennifer Garner with Birdie 2017. Jennifer Garner/Instagram
“They celebrated Thanksgiving as a family,” says the insider. “Children love when they are all together. Jen hosted a dinner party at her house.”
Before the celebration at Garner’s house, the former couple and their three children also volunteered together at the LA homeless shelter at the annual Midnight Mission Thanksgiving Street Fair.
Affleck, 52, a longtime supporter of the organization, and Garner (who divorced in 2015 after 10 years of marriage) appeared in good spirits at the charity event, smiling together for a photo on The Midnight Mission’s Instagram account.
“They really enjoy giving back to their community and cherish the quality time they spend together as a family,” a source previously told PEOPLE about the family outing.
Garner is currently dating CaliGroup CEO John Miller, while Affleck recently split from Jennifer Lopez.
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Jennifer Garner with children Violet, Seraphina and Samuel Affleck in 2018. ROBYN BECK/AFP
The Deadpool & Wolverine the actress announced Birdie’s death on Wednesday, Nov. 27, and revealed that despite being sick, Birdie stuck around until Violet, his “person,” came home from college.
“The vet told us that dogs are often held until their person comes home from college,” Garner wrote in her Instagram tribute to the late pet. “And we believe Birdie did just that, so we can pet her soft ears together and thank her for being the best dog in the world.”
To begin the post, which she filled with memories of the golden retriever, the actress wrote: “It’s hard to know how to write this – it seems crazy, given the world, to mourn a pet, but since we shared Birdie with all of you, it does be fair to inform you of her death.”
The Family switch star revealed that after Birdie, a “famous foodie,” missed a meal on Thursday, Nov. 21, the family knew she wasn’t feeling herself. “We were surprised to learn that, not only was she very ill, but she was at the end of her life,” she wrote.
Birdie — who “loved to be read to” and “knew how to give people what they needed” — lived a “happy dog’s life and is now in the role she was born to play: little angel,” Garner concluded the post. “It is a gift to love and be loved by such a creature as Doggie Birdie. 🐾🪽.”
Categories: Trends
Source: HIS Education