Mick Foley shared deeply personal news with fans on Monday, January 26, announcing the death of his mother after what he described as a long battle with dementia.
The WWE Hall of Famer shared the news on Facebook, commemorating the life and influence of Beverly Foley, according to PennLive.
“It is with a heavy heart I report the passing of my mother,” Foley wrote, adding that she was “a strong, fiercely independent woman” who overcame polio as a child and went on to become the first person in her family to attend college.
He credited her with shaping his sense of possibility early on, saying she instilled in him the belief that “no dream was too big to dream,” while encouraging his imagination and love for reading, writing, and storytelling.
Foley also shared a longer message on Facebook, offering a glimpse into the final weeks of her life. He explained that just two weeks before her passing, he and his children were able to say their goodbyes together.
“We took turns holding her hand, telling her how much we loved her,” he wrote, noting that although she spoke very little that day, her eyes were open and she seemed alert. Foley said he hopes she heard every word.
When he returned to see her again two weeks later, he noticed a change. “The light was gone,” he recalled, describing a moment when he held her hand, told her he loved her, and said it was okay to let go. She passed away a few days later.
In his message, Foley also thanked his brother John and nephew Jake for being a constant presence in his mother’s life, and expressed hope that one day dementia will be eradicated so other families don’t have to endure the same experience.
He closed with a sentiment that has long been part of his public identity, writing that he will “always be proud to be Mrs. Foley’s Baby Boy.”