Michelle Obama announced the passing of her mother, Marian Robinson, on May 31 at the age of 86. After Barack Obama won the 2008 presidential election, Robinson became known as America’s first grandmother. She lived in the White House with her daughter and son-in-law, assisting in the care of her granddaughters, Sasha and Malia. Though she kept a low profile, Robinson occasionally appeared at holiday events, special trips overseas, and White House concerts.

“My mom, Marian Robinson, was my rock, always there for whatever I needed. She was the same steady backstop for our entire family, and we are heartbroken to share she passed away today. We wanted to offer some reflections on her remarkable life,” Michelle captioned her Instagram post.

In the included statement, Michelle highlighted that her mother “had a way of summing up the truths about life in a word or two, maybe a quick phrase that made everyone around her stop and think.” She continued, “Her wisdom was almost innate, as something she was born with, but in reality, it was hard-earned.”