A famed opera singer who performed at some of the world’s most prestigious venues despite receiving two double lung transplants died early Wednesday.
The family of Charity Tillemann-Dick announced the tragic news on the singer’s official Facebook page.
“This morning, life’s curtain closed on one of its consummate heroines. Our beloved Charity passed peacefully with her husband, mother, and siblings at her side and sunshine on her face,” read part of the post.
“Our hearts are broken. In this moment, the world is dark. But Charity’s rays extend far beyond her tragic finale on this earthly stage. Her light continues to illuminate the hearts of thousands and, in that way, Charity is with us always. She is our hero. We love her,” the post continued.
Tillemann-Dick, 35, was diagnosed with pulmonary hypertension at age 20 while studying in Budapest, Hungary.
The medical condition is caused by either a hardening or blockage of the blood vessels connecting the heart and lungs.
Before her diagnosis, Tillemann-Dick suffered from frequent shortness of breath and blacked out three times over the course of a few months.
In 2009, when her condition worsened, she underwent her first double lung transplant.
The singer later suffered a chronic rejection, causing her to receive another double lung transplant in 2012.
She was given five years to live after the surgery.
The bleak prognosis didn’t stop Tillemann-Dick from reaching her goals.
“I knew that death was imminent, but I was able to live this dream,” Tillemann-Dick told The Post after a September 2011 performance at Lincoln Center. “A million and one miracles had paved the path.”



