“Rest In Peace”: The Bachelor’s Kelsey Anderson Mourns Major Loss After Joey Graziadei’s Career Forces Them Into Long-Distance Relationship

The Bachelor winner Kelsey Anderson is in mourning right now after losing a beloved person in her life. Kelsey has gone through many highs and lows over the past year after starring in The Bachelor season 28. She and Joey Graziadei don't hesitate to share all the fantastic successes they've achieved separately and together. However, they've still had to face plenty of speculation about the state of their relationship. A wedding date hasn't been set yet, but they plan to make some progress this year. Sometimes, they're hit with unexpected news, like Joey losing his grandma in May 2024.

Now Kelsey is mourning a loss in her own family. The Bachelor star took to Instagram to reveal that her grandma Sheila Vannoy passed away on February 12 at the age of 80. She began her post by saying, "Rest in peace, Gangsta Granny," with a heart emoji. Her grandma's passing happened "seven years and a day" after her mother died from cancer. "It brings me comfort knowing you're together again," Kelsey said.

She thanked her grandma for raising her mom, for all the wonderful memories with "Papa Jack," and for giving her "my curls," which she's going to wear with pride. Kelsey included several photos, including her grandma surrounded by several family members, a funeral program and a text message presumably from her grandma. Kelsey also added a health update that said, "Grandma is very sick BUT she is NOT missing watching you tonight," which seems like it was referring to her time on The Bachelor, but the timestamp doesn't quite line up, so maybe it was a different TV appearance.

Kelsey's social media followers flooded the comments section of her Instagram post with condolences and empathetic messages. Mixed in with the 300-plus comments was a reply from Joey's sister, Carly Monzo, who expressed how much she loves her future sister-in-law. Barbara Woods, the One Tree Hill actress who's dating Kelsey's father, Mark Anderson, left several heart emojis. Bachelor franchise alum Ashley Iaconetti said, "I'm so sorry, Kelsey. Think of you," and added heart and praying hands emojis. Rachael Kirkconnell revealed she'd be praying for Kelsey. Also, Jenna Johnson, who won DWTS with Joey, commented with white heart and dove emojis.

What Kelsey Anderson’s Loss Means Amid New Life With Joey

Joey Knows What It's Like To Lose A Grandma

Due to Joey's current job, which is performing on the DWTS Tour after winning Dancing With The Stars season 33, he and Kelsey have been forced into a semi-long-distance relationship. Joey doesn't appear at every tour stop, so there's plenty of time for them to see each other in person and still be in each other's lives during this very busy time. Looking at the recent tour dates, it doesn't look like Joey was on the road when Kelsey's grandma died, so it's possible they were able to remain close and he could provide comfort during such a difficult time.

As Joey revealed in 2024, he knows what it's like to lose a grandmother. At the time, the former Bachelor lead admitted that it's not easy to say goodbye to a loved one. Kelsey was there for him when he was in mourning, and now the roles have reversed. Just like Kelsey is experiencing now after Sheila's death, Joey was inundated with fans and friends reaching out with their own condolences and messages of support when his grandmother passed away.

What Kelsey Anderson's Loss Means For Her Family

Kelsey's Family Are In Mourning

Bachelor Nation got to know Kelsey when she was a contestant during The Bachelor season 28 with Joey. Since Joey ended up choosing her at the very end of the season, that meant she was able to take part in the hometown dates a few episodes before the big engagement. That ended up being a monumental moment for the franchise because, during the hometown dates, fans were introduced to Kelsey's father, Mark, and learned about his wife dying from cancer. This led to Mark eventually becoming a Golden Bachelorette contestant.

The hometown dates episode of The Bachelor season 28 also showed how close Kelsey is with her entire family, especially after her mother's death, and the strong connection she and her siblings have with their dad. There's no doubt that "Gangsta Granny" Sheila passing away was devastating for the Anderson family. Even if people know that a certain family member won't live much longer because of their age or various health issues, it still doesn't make it any easier when their death actually occurs.

Our Take On Kelsey Anderson’s Tribute To “Gangsta Granny”

Kelsey Has Many Memories To Keep Grandma's Spirit Alive

Kelsey provided a beautiful tribute to her grandma. As she said, Sheila's genes have been passed down to her in the form of her curly hair, which she plans to wear with pride. Kelsey has many memories and stories to keep her grandma's spirit alive. During such a somber moment in her life, hopefully, she and Joey have been able to mourn together, strengthening their bond even more amid tragedy.