R.I.P

‘Catwoman’ Jocelyn Wildenstein’s Cause of Death Revealed

Wildenstein died of a pulmonary embolism caused by phlebitis, her partner said.

The longtime partner of Jocelyn Wildenstein, who was nicknamed “Catwoman” for her feline-like plastic surgery, has revealed that she died in her sleep while suffering from a painful condition that gave her swollen legs. Fashion designer Lloyd Klein said on Wednesday that Wildenstein had gone down for a nap before he discovered that she was dead. “It’s very sad. It’s extremely sad,” he told People. “It’s extremely sad to lay down with your other half that I know for 21 years and waiting to celebrate New Year’s Eve and to find her cold.” Klein revealed that Wildenstein had a condition called phlebitis, which is inflammation of the vein that can block the blood flow. “Because of her phlebitis, the legs were very, very swollen, and the blood was blocked, and there was no oxygen in the brain,” he said. The 84-year-old ultimately died of a pulmonary embolism, AFP and Paris Match reported. Klein said that Wildenstein’s death caught him by surprise. “We were at the Ritz. We were having parties. She was in great shape. She was in impeccable health,” he said. Wildenstein first made headlines during her 1998 divorce from art dealer Alec Wildenstein. Her extravagant wealth, subsequent bankruptcy and wild plastic surgery made her a campy icon in recent years.