The cause of death of Tyka Nelson, the younger sister of Prince Rogers Nelson, professionally known as Prince, has been revealed.
The Minneapolis singer, who recently retired from music after scheduling a farewell concert in June, died of cardiac arrest as the primary cause of death and congestive heart failure as a secondary cause, TMZ reports.
Her autopsy results were released by the Minnesota Department of Health on Monday, Nov. 18, according to the outlet.
Tyka Nelson.
Cindy Barrymore/Variety/Penske Media via Getty
Tyka was 64 years old at the time of her death.
A relative of the family, Charles “Chazz” Smith, previously announced the news in a social media post on Nov. 4. “It is with great sadness that our family shares the news of my cousin, Tyka Evene Nelson, who passed away this morning,” he wrote.
One of her sons, President Leonard Laeil Nelson, later confirmed her death The Minnesota Star Tribune.
Prince’s sister Tyka Nelson says late icon ‘kept avoiding questions’ during their last phone call: ‘Talk to me’
According to her death certificate, Tyka had suffered from nonischemic cardiomyopathy for at least four months before her death, which is defined as “a generic term that includes all causes of reduced heart function other than those caused by heart attacks or blockages in the arteries of the heart,” according to the University of Rochester Medical Center.
Substance abuse also contributed to Tyka’s weakened heart, authorities said.
Tyka was Prince’s only sibling, and shared parents John L. Nelson and Mattie Shaw Nelson.
Tyka Nelson in Los Angeles in November 2016.
Kevin Winter/Getty
She has released four albums during her musical career, which includes 1988’s Royal bluein 1992 Yellow moon, red skyin 2008 A whole new me and in 2011 cheat.
The singer shared six children with her husband Maurice Phillips – daughters Danielle Phillips, Crystal Phillips, Chelsea Phillips and sons Richard Phillips, Sir Montece Laeil and President.
Remembering Prince’s life in photos
Speaking with Stand in June, Tyka said she had begun work on a memoir “about me and my family,” but it had not been completed at the time of the interview. “We have a few more chapters,” she added.
In the conversation, she also expressed her gratitude to the people she met in her life, who were left behind by her late brother.
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“I’m one hell of a grateful person to have had wonderful people in my life. I miss their wisdom,” Tyka said.
She continued: “If I could, I would travel the world and meet the people who loved him – I’m like the last connection to him, for some people – it’s like giving back to him. As far as I’m concerned, he stayed because they loved his music.”
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Source: HIS Education