‘Real Housewives’ Star Announces Son’s Tragic Death

A star of the “Real Housewives of Orange County” hit series has announced the tragic passing of her son at an all-too-early age.

In an emotional Instagram post on Sunday, Lauri Peterson, the Orange County mother, wrote that her son Josh Waring, 35, had passed away suddenly.

“It is with a shattered heart that I write this post to let you know that my sweet Josh left this earth Easter Sunday. No one can ever prepare you for this feeling of such deep loss,” Peterson wrote according to the Huffington Post. “Every fiber in my body hurts. Josh fought every single day for most of his adult life, for his life, but this past Sunday, the challenge was too great.”

She continued: “Even during adult hardship, Josh continued to maintain his sense of humor, continued to be optimistic, continued to be kind to others, defended those that were unable to defend themselves and continued to love his family so so much! He received the most joy, pride and purpose through his daughter Kennady and watching her grow and thrive over the years.”

The county coroner has yet to conduct an autopsy for cause of death, but the Orange County Register reports that Waring may have died from a drug overdose.

Josh’s sister, Ashley Zarlin, echoed their mother’s statement with her own.

“My heart aches for the lost opportunities for us to grow together as adults, to share laughter and dreams, the conversations that we will never get to have, and the dreams that will be left unfulfilled,” Zarlin wrote on Instagram Sunday. Referring to their mother, she noted, “My mom’s unwavering love and tireless efforts to support him will forever be etched in my heart. She fought alongside him, never wavering in her belief that he could overcome this demon.”

Peterson starred in “The Real Housewives of Orange County” for four seasons spanning 2006 to 2009. While her appearances didn’t garner the series’ highest-rated season, the Orange County crew still mustered a top 3% rating among all TV shows according to analytics firm Parrot.

The 63-year-old mother of two left the show in 2009 after admitting the toll her son’s heroin addiction had taken on the family. Over the past decade, Waring had numerous run-ins with the law, including serving four years in prison after facing charges of attempted murder in the shooting of Daniel Lopez. He died just days after securing his release as part of a widening scandal into the county’s jail inmate phone system, according to a local Fox affiliate.

Peterson said her son’s life “was filled with deep intellect, humor, pranks, athletics, snowboarding, body boarding mountain hikes, reading, friends and his love for music.”

Friends of the family, including Bravo host Andy Cohen, offered their support in public posts of their own.

“You tried so hard to save him, and by sharing Josh’s story you would [sic] up educating people around the world about the tragedy of addiction for those who are touched by it,” Cohen wrote. “May Josh’s memory be a blessing to you always. Sending your family all my love.”