I just heard about this, and it's bittersweet news indeed. She had a massive brain hemorrhage in Jan. 2010 and never really recovered. Also never really recovered from the 2007 death of her severely disabled daughter Valerie, whom she was devoted to, even at the expense of her career. A woman with a huge four octave range, and an equally big heart.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bHhBacfP-dg
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bHhBacfP-dg