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In a 2015 feature with People magazine, Latifah and Owens talked about how the Owens lived with her ailment. Owens, a teacher, was diagnosed with a heart condition after fainting in her classroom.

\"PHOTO:
Charles Norfleet/FilmMagic via Getty Images,FILE
PHOTO: Queen Latifah and her mother Rita Owens attend the "Steel Magnolias" New York Premiere at Paris Theatre in this Oct. 3, 2012 file photo in New York City.
>

Doctors determined she had sleep apnea and heart failure. She was fitted with a defibrillator in her chest and was ordered to change her diet.

In a PSA that she filmed at the time, Latifah stated, \"My mom is stronger than anyone I've ever known. Growing up when life got hard, her strength helped pull us through. Even after her heart failure diagnosis, she remains stronger than ever.\"

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