George Clooney is reflecting on the final moments he shared with his older sister, Adelia "Ada" Zeidler, and the lesson her death taught him about the fleeting nature of life.
During a master class he hosted at the Venice Film Festival, the Oscar-winning actor and filmmaker recalled holding his sister's hand as she died from cancer last year.
"My sister, who I was very close to, got cancer last year and she died very quickly," Clooney said. "She died very quickly, and I was with her when she died, and there was this feeling, being with her, holding her hand when she died, understanding how brief all of this is."
The memory transported Clooney back to their childhood, when the siblings
grew up together in Kentucky.
"It was minutes ago that she and I were little kids together," he continued. "Minutes ago we were holding hands as little kids. And now, you know, time goes so fast."
Clooney said losing his sister has reinforced the importance of actively looking for happiness, even during life's most difficult periods.
"All of this, and so we need to find nothing but joy," he said. "Find joy in the things that make [us] miserable. You have to seek the joy out. You have to demand it, and you have to make sure that you demand it of yourself. That's it."
The remarks came as Clooney was honored with the Golden Lion for Lifetime Achievement at the 83rd Venice International Film Festival.
Zeidler died Dec. 19 at age 65 following a battle with cancer. After her death, Clooney remembered his sister as a source of strength for him and his wife, human rights attorney Amal Clooney.
"My sister, Ada, was my hero," Clooney said in a statement at the time. "She faced down cancer with courage and humor. I've never met anyone so brave. Amal and I will miss her terribly."
According to her obituary, Zeidler died at St. Elizabeth Healthcare in Edgewood, Kentucky, surrounded by loved ones.
Although she largely remained outside the public eye, Zeidler joined her brother in Venice for his 2014 wedding to Amal Clooney.
Zeidler was an artist who taught elementary school art at Augusta Independent School in Bracken County, Kentucky, for several years. She was also a National Merit Scholar, a member of the Augusta Art Guild and a past grand marshal of Augusta's Annual White Christmas Parade. An avid reader, she participated in a local book club.
She is survived by her children, Nick Zeidler and Allison Zeidler Herolaga, as well as her parents, Nick Clooney and Nina Bruce Warren, and her brother.
Contributors: Brendan Morrow, USA TODAY
This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: George Clooney recalls holding his 'hero' sister's hand as she died
