JEN TURNS TO FAMILY

The star has learned the best kind of therapy is to be gentle with myself"

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Throughout the ups and downs of her life, Jennifer Garner has always had a secret weapon at her disposal – her tight-knit family.

The 13 Going on 30 star is close to her mum, dad and two sisters, with whom she grew up in the American south, and in January the A-lister paid tribute to her parents, Bill and Patricia Garner, on their 59th wedding anniversary.

Calling them “incredibly sweet and loving parents”, she thanked them for “giving me such a secure, happy start to life”.

Friends say the actor and co-founder of organic food company Once Upon A Farm is heartbroken after Bill passed away last month, aged 85.

Sharing a series of photos, Jennifer revealed she and her sisters Melissa, 55, and Susannah, 49, “were with him, singing Amazing Grace as he left us. Did we carry him across or scare him away – valid question”, she joked.

“While there is no tragedy in the death of an 85-year-old man who lived a healthy, wonderful life, I know grief is unavoidable, waiting around unexpected corners.”

Bill’s emotional memorial service last week was streamed live on social media, with all three of Jennifer’s children with Ben Affleck, 51, giving tributes for their beloved grandfather.

The family’s love for the “ever-patient girl dad” was evident as Jennifer commemorated her father’s “work ethic, leadership and faith”, and said her family were grateful to the Charleston Area Medical Centre and City of Hope, which specialises in cancer treatment. “Your care extended Dad’s life,” she said.