Gail Zappa, wife of Frank Zappa and head of the Zappa Family Trust, has died aged 70.

Zappa, “departed this earth peacefully at her home … surrounded by her children,” according to a statement from the Zappa Family Trust. The cause of her death has not been confirmed.

Gail married Frank Zappa in 1967. The pair remained together until Frank’s death in 1993. The couple had four children—Moon Unit, Dweezil, Ahmet, and Diva. Following Frank’s death, Gail Zappa ran the Zappa Family Trust and oversaw the release of 38 albums of her late husband’s music. Earlier this year, the Zappa family announced that the couple’s son Ahmet would be in charge of the Trust. Frank Zappa’s final album Dance Me This was released in June.

Born Adelaide Gail Sloatman on January 1, 1945, Gail was “a key figure in the creative renaissance that is Laurel Canyon.” She met her husband while working as a secretary at the Whiskey-a-Go-Go. In his autobiography, Frank Zappa wrote that “it took a couple of minutes, but I fell (don’t laugh) in love.” [via Rolling Stone]

The Zappa Family Trust shared the following statement:

Gail enthusiastically executed her role as guardian of her husband’s creative life and, with his passing, strove to ensure his legacy as one of the leading American composers and musicians of the 20th century. In this and all business endeavors, Gail passionately advocated to establish clear definitions of intellectual property and copyright laws on behalf of not just her husband, but all artists. While she conducted intricate legal negotiations with corporations as grand dame of the Zappa Family Trust, she never failed to impart the sense of humor that was part and parcel of her indomitable and formidable personality. Gail, self-described as a pagan absurdist, was motivated by love in all aspects of her life, kept her authenticity intact, unbowed and, simply put, was one bad ass in the music business and political world.

Gail will forever be identified as a key figure in the creative renaissance that is Laurel Canyon. But more than any singular accomplishment, she defined herself in her personal relationships, happiest when surrounded by loved ones and artists, often one in the same. The memories she leaves behind are indeed her own art form. Her searing intelligence, unforgettable smile, wild thicket of hair and trailing black velvets leave a blur in her wake.