Celebrity

Demi Lovato Comforts Her Great-Grandmother While Mourning Her 'Papa': 'Her Strength Has Given Me the Inspiration to Keep Powering Through'

"My heart was in pieces," said the "Confident" singer, who lost her great-grandfather last week

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Published on October 5, 2015 10:50 AM

Demi Lovato is still mourning the loss of her great-grandfather.

The singer took to Instagram Sunday, sharing a photo of her comforting her great-grandmother, “Mimaw,” one week after her “Papa” died.

“Got to cuddle for hours while taking a nap with my Mimaw today. This woman is an ANGEL. Anyone who knows me knows how obsessed I am with them so this has been a very painful experience,” Lovato, 23, captioned the black-and-white image.

“One of the hardest things I’ve ever had to do was hold her during my Papa’s funeral. Over 54 years together, they were the definition of soulmates. His last words were even ‘I love you,'” the singer added. “My heart was in pieces this past week having to say goodbye to him and watching her breakdown several times was probably the most gut wrenching thing I’ve ever witnessed. But even though she’s devastated she keeps telling me, ‘I’m gonna be okay.’

Lovato’s great-grandfather was 88 when he died, and while she’s still grieving his loss, she’s taking solace in her great-grandma’s unwavering spirit.

“This woman right here is my WORLD and at 93 years old she is the strongest woman I know. Watching her strength has given me the inspiration to keep powering through life’s most difficult obstacles and conquer them with grace. I love you Mimaw.. SO much. And RIP Papa.. You are so loved and so missed by so many..”

The former Disney star ended her Instagram post thanking her fans for their thoughts and prayers for her great-grandma: “P.S. My dear Lovatics, please pray for her. She is heartbroken but when I told her there were millions of people praying for her, she smiled…. Thank you all for the love and support..”

Lovato first shared the heartbreaking news last week, posting a shot of her “Papa” on Instagram.

“I’m doing well, and like I said, I have supportive people around me,” Lovato told PEOPLE Tuesday. “It’s never easy to deal with, but I’m getting through it.”

And his death inspired the performer – whose new album Confident is due Oct. 16 – to pose for a nude, makeup-free and un-retouched photo shoot last week.

“If there’s one thing I’ve learned in the past day, it’s that life is too short,” she told Vanity Fair photographer Patrick Ecclesine ahead of the shoot.

• Reporting by MICHELE CORRISTON