Mabel Lowe has broken her silence again to honor what would have been her late sister’s 14th birthday.
The 17-year-old took to Instagram Stories last week to post a touching tribute to Fiona Lowe, the 13-year-old daughter of actor Chad Lowe, 56, and producer Kim Painter who died by suicide on Sept. 29. Mabel shared a photo of Fiona clutching a Severus Snape poster from “Harry Potter,” scrawling across the image, “Happy birthday fiona ….i miss you.”
She followed that with three additional snapshots of the sisters together, captioning one with their zodiac signs: “…. “♏+♉forever.” The posts marked Mabel’s first public acknowledgment of Fiona since an emotional Instagram message she shared in the immediate aftermath of the tragedy.
That earlier post, also on Instagram, found Mabel grappling with the sudden loss in raw terms. “I love you so much fiona ❤️ i wish your short time here was easier and i hope your mind is at ease now,” she wrote. “I will honor you forever and keep your memory alive. I love you, i hope you knew just how much.”
The Lowe-Painter family had announced Fiona’s death through the outlet with a statement that emphasized her central place in their lives. “She was adored by her sisters and she was deeply loved by her parents,” they said. “In fact, she was the light of our lives. Her passing is devastating for our entire family and we ask for prayers and privacy at this time.” The statement noted Fiona’s surviving sisters, Mabel and Nixie, 10.
In the weeks since, the family has made several decisions that signal a period of transition. They gathered for a private celebration of life service last month, limiting attendance to family and close friends. Days after Fiona’s death, Chad Lowe, Kim Painter, and their daughters made their first public appearance at the wedding of Rob Lowe’s son Matthew on Oct. 10, a star-studded ceremony that drew Hollywood figures.
The family home was listed for sale less than three weeks after Fiona’s passing, a move reported by multiple outlets as part of the family’s effort to relocate following the tragedy.
Chad Lowe, the younger brother of Rob Lowe, has built a career spanning decades in television and film, including an Emmy-winning turn on “Life Goes On” and more recent work as a director on series like “Bones” and “9-1-1: Lone Star.” He and Painter married in 2010, welcoming Mabel that same year, followed by Fiona in 2011 and Nixie in 2016.
The circumstances of Fiona’s death have prompted the family to navigate grief under public scrutiny, with Mabel’s social media posts offering the most direct window into their private mourning. Her birthday tributes continued that pattern, using the informal, unfiltered register typical of Instagram Stories rather than a more formal statement.
The National Suicide Prevention Lifeline can be reached at 800-273-TALK (8255), and the Crisis Text Line is available by texting 741741. Those experiencing suicidal thoughts can also call or text 988 to reach the 24/7 National Suicide Prevention Hotline.
The family has not announced any public memorial events beyond the private service already held.