Ramona Singer's younger brother has passed away, she recently told Us Weekly.

The Real Housewives of New York City entrepreneur shared the news at Jill Zarin's 5th Annual Luxury Luncheon in Southampton on Saturday, July 29. “My brother just died,” she said. “No one knows this. He died about three weeks ago, my younger brother, and we weren’t close anymore.”

However, something good has come out of the tragedy for Ramona. “Because of this death, I got closer to my niece. I flew her out … for about a week,” she said. “And I spoke to her and said that I was really sorry about her dad’s death, but if it wasn’t for his death, you wouldn’t have bonded with [my daughter] Avery and I. So we have this whole new relationship we never had.”

Ramona has previously opened up to RHONY fans about her difficult upbringing with her family. But, of course, the RHONY mom has made sure to give her daughter, Avery, the most loving home environment possible. In fact, Ramona told The Daily Dish in May that she and the 22-year-old are not just mother and daughter; they're best friends. "I never talk down to Avery ever. I never talk to her as an authority. I always gave her choices. I always spoke to her as an intellectual woman and I always included her in whatever I was doing in business and I exposed it to her," Ramona said. "So she has a really great head on her shoulders."

See more of Ramona and Avery through the years, below.