As if Cory Monteith's untimely death wasn't tragic enough, his mother Ann McGregor revealed the devastating way in which she learned from girlfriend and Glee co-star Lea Michele that he was gone. The actor's mom shared the story just days after the five-year anniversary of his death.

“I got a call from Lea and she was screaming on the phone,” Ann heartbreakingly told People on July 18. “She was yelling, ‘Is it true, is it true about Cory?’ and I said, ‘What about Cory?’ I had heard nothing. And then police knocked on my front door.” Ann says she immediately went into "A state of numbness,” and "just shut off all emotions. I was numb.”

In the following days, Ann said that she often tried to pretend it wasn't real. "He’s in L.A., he’ll call me soon," she thought. Even five years later, Ann admits "I’m still always hanging on edge. When you lose someone who is such a big part of you, you lose all purpose for living.”

Ann said that Cory "is carried in people’s hearts forever," which echos how Lea feels. She took a moment to honor Cory on the five-year anniversary of his death on July 13. “There are some who bring a light so great to the world, that even after they have gone, the light remains," she wrote, alongside a heart emoji. The touching quote was accompanied by a beautiful photo of a sunrise over the ocean.

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Fans were deeply touched by the message. "Thinking of Cory today. He will forever and always be loved, missed, and remembered. Love you Lea," wrote a fan. Another tried to comfort the star, writing, "I love you, I hope you're surrounded by people who love you the most. I bet he’s smiling up there and he’s so, so proud of you."

Cory passed away on July 13, 2013. His body was found in a hotel room in Vancouver, Canada, and he died from a “mixed drug toxicity” of alcohol and heroin, said authorities at the time. His friends and co-stars were shocked and devastated, especially because he had just completed a month of rehab three months earlier.

Cory was just 31 years old, but he had always tried to support and inspire his fans by being open about his struggles with substance abuse. He had an incredibly bright future. Besides Glee, he had acted in several other TV shows including Kyle XY. The year he passed away he appeared in two films: McCanick and All The Wrong Reasons. Our hearts go out to his friends, family, and fans.