Jess Walton Mourns the Death of Her Husband, John

Please join us in sending love to THE YOUNG & THE RESTLESS star Jess Walton (Jill), who is mourning the death of her beloved husband, John James. “My sweet husband of 40 years passed away this week,” the actress shared on Twitter along with a family photo of them with their children, Allison and Cole. She shared more details on her Instagram and Facebook.

“Three months ago, my sweet husband of 40 years, John, was diagnosed with terminal liver cancer,” she wrote. “Since that time, with weekly visits from hospice, my daughter, Allison, her new husband, Wade, our son, Cole, and I have been caring for John at home. This has been far and away the most painful period of my life, and our children’s.

“At the same time, it has been richly rewarding,” Walton added. “Because John James has spent his entire life helping others, and most especially taking care of us, his family. For us to be able to devote ourselves to him in his home with all that entails, and give him love and care and comfort from the people he loves the most, was our honor. In the end, his greatest gift to us and all grievers, is the Grief Recovery Method, the company he founded. That gift will guide all of us through the daily heartbreak of living without him.”

On the Grief Recovery Method Instagram page, Cole shared a photo of himself with his family and opened up about losing his father. “It’s with a heavy heart that I must tell you that my dad, John W. James, founder of the Grief Recovery Method, died early Tuesday morning in the comfort of his home,” he wrote. “Grief is conflicting. On one hand, I am glad he is no longer in pain. On the other hand, I miss him terribly and can’t imagine life without him. He helped shape me into the man I am today and I want to pass that along to my children.”

Our thoughts are with Walton and her entire family during this difficult time.