Madonna's brother was estranged from the rest of his family for much of his adult life.
Madonna's older brother, Anthony Ciccone, has died aged 66.
Joe Henry, husband of Madonna's sister Melanie Ciccone, broke the news of Anthony's death via social media.
"Anthony was a complex character - and God knows: we messed up at times, as true siblings can," Henry wrote in a message posted on Instagram.
“But I loved him and understood him better than I was sometimes willing to show. But the trouble fades away – and the family remains – hands outstretched across the table,” he continued.
“Farewell, then, Brother Anthony. I want to believe that the god your blessed mother believed in (and mine) has her there, waiting to receive you. At least for today, no one will stop me from having that vision," he concluded.
The Ciccone family, which consisted of eight children, grew up in Michigan, where Madonna's older brother is believed to have lived when he died.
Their mother, Madonna Ciccone, passed away after a battle with breast cancer at the age of 33 in 1963.
Anthony Ciccone was the eldest of eight siblings. Due to his addiction and other personal problems, he was estranged from his family for much of his adult life.
Ciccone worked as a carpenter and was later employed in his father's wine vineyard, although he struggled with alcoholism for a long time and was homeless for several years. At one point he even reportedly lived under a bridge in Michigan.
In December 2017, the Daily Mail reported that Anthony had completed a program at a rehab center and was subsequently reunited with his family.
In 2011, Anthony Ciccone had spoken out against his famous sister Madonna and the rest of their family, accusing them of not caring about him.
“I am a zero in their eyes – a non-existent person. I'm a disgrace. If I froze to death, my family probably wouldn't know or care for six months,” he said, according to the Daily Mail.
“My father would be very happy if I died of hypothermia, then he wouldn't have to worry about it anymore. She's old school, she grew up in the Depression," he added before claiming he and Madonna "never loved each other".
“I never loved her in the first place, she never loved me. We never loved each other," he asserted.
