The Grateful Dead have paid tribute to longtime collaborator Donna Jean Godchaux, following news of her death at age 78.

“It is with heavy hearts that we mourn the loss of Donna Jean Godchaux,” the band shared in a statement posted to social media. “Her unmistakable voice and radiant spirit touched the lives of countless fans and immeasurably enriched the Grateful Dead family. Her contributions will forever remain part of the tapestry that continues to be woven.”

Godchaux passed away on Sunday (Nov. 2) at a hospice facility in Tennessee following a prolonged battle with cancer, according to her longtime publicist Dennis McNally. “She was a sweet and warmly beautiful spirit, and all those who knew her are united in loss,” McNally said. “In the words of Dead lyricist Robert Hunter, ‘May th

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