Family Friend Says Chad Lowe’s Daughter Fiona Was Deeply Affected by a Tragedy Before Her Death at 13

A family friend says Fiona Lowe was deeply affected by the loss of her home in the Palisades Fire months before her death at 13. The tragedy forced the family to rebuild while Fiona and her sisters confronted what the blaze had taken from them.

Fiona Lowe’s final months have taken on a heartbreaking significance as the people who knew her continue to remember the vibrant 13-year-old behind the headlines. Now, a family friend has revealed that one devastating event had a profound effect on Fiona and her family before her death.

The friend, Mykesha Robinson, knew Fiona through her daughter Faith, who had been one of Fiona’s closest friends when they were elementary school students. Looking back, Robinson remembers a girl who was outgoing, kind and quick to make other children feel welcome.

But Fiona’s family had already endured an enormous upheaval before the teenager died.

Fiona is pictured alone in the back seat of a car, wearing a dark blue T-shirt and blue jeans with white socks and sneakers. With her legs stretched across the seat, she holds a spoon over a small container of food in her lap, while sunlight streams through the window and colorful balloon decorations hang nearby. | Source: Instagram/mabellowe_

Fiona Was Remembered as a Girl Who Made Friends Easily

Mykesha told the Daily Mail that Fiona and Faith met on their first day at Palisades Charter Elementary School in Pacific Palisades. Faith was having difficulty settling into her new surroundings, Robinson recalled. “She was that girl. She was not shy. She would go up and talk to anybody.”

“Faith had a tough time integrating,” Mykesha recalled. “It was kind of just really tough for her. And Fiona just came up to her and was like, ‘Hey, do you want to be friends? Do you want to go jump rope?’ And Faith’s like, ‘Yeah.’ So they hit it off really good.”

The girls quickly became inseparable, earning the nickname “FiFi” and becoming what Robinson described as “two peas in a pod.” Mykesha remembered Fiona as “sweet, loving and so kind.”

Fiona appears carefree in a playful childhood moment, standing on a wooden deck in a black one-piece swimsuit featuring a large white unicorn with a colorful horn. With both arms raised and a wide, exuberant expression, she looks full of energy as sunlight falls across the scene behind her. | Source: Instagram/mabellowe_

After elementary school, Fiona and Faith eventually attended different middle schools and lost touch. But their friendship had left a lasting impression on both families. Fiona was the middle child of Chad Lowe and Kim Painter, who also share daughters Mabel, 17, and Nixie, 10.

Kim was a familiar presence at the girls’ school, volunteering on campus and attending school events, while Chad was remembered by Mykesha as a down-to-earth father despite his Hollywood career.

“She did a lot of service work and volunteering on campus,’ Mykesha recalled. ‘So she was like the class historian, and she took all the photos of the kids. She went to all the events. I mean, she literally was on campus every single day.”

Then the Family Lost Its Home

In January 2025, the Lowe family was among those whose lives were upended by the devastating Palisades Fire. The blaze destroyed their Pacific Palisades home, forcing the family to evacuate and leaving the house where the girls had spent years growing up in ruins.

The fire, fueled by powerful Santa Ana winds, tore through the coastal community between Santa Monica and Malibu. It ultimately killed 12 people and destroyed thousands of structures.

For Fiona and her sisters, the loss was more than the destruction of a building. Their family home and many of the belongings and memories attached to it were gone. Chad later shared photographs of Mabel, Fiona and Nixie returning to the property in protective masks and shoe coverings after the evacuation.

“Almost a month after we evacuated, our girls finally got to go back to see what’s left of their home,” he wrote in February 2025. Chad also emphasizes his daughters’ resilience during the aftermath, writing that he was “in awe of their spirit and resilience.”

“The way they’ve handled this whole devastating experience is nothing short of remarkable. I am in awe of their spirit and resilience. Helping them navigate these tough times is my sole purpose. Being their dad is my life’s greatest joy and privilege.”

The Palisades Fire Had a Profound Impact on Fiona

For Mykesha, however, the fire was not simply another difficult chapter in the family’s story. Speaking about Fiona specifically, she suggested the experience had deeply affected the teenager. “Something happened when the fires happened,” Robinson told the Daily Mail. “They lost everything.”

Mykesha said, “I’ve been in buckets of tears over the situation,” adding that she learned about Fiona’s death on social media and has not heard back from Kim since reaching out. The fire also destroyed a majority of the school Fiona and Faith had attended together, meaning the disaster affected not only the family’s home but also a place connected to Fiona’s childhood.

Fiona Found Her Way Back to Dance

Even after the family’s home was destroyed, Fiona continued with an important part of her life: dance. Her dance teacher, Kendra Andrews, later remembered seeing Fiona return to the studio after the family had endured the fire.

In a tribute video, Kendra recalled, “This first video was taken only a month after you lost your home in the fire. You came into the studio like you always did for all the years I’ve known you…excited with a beaming bright smile and a big, warm hug for me.”

Fiona Lowe dances during a studio rehearsal, returning to practice just a month after her family lost their home in the Palisades Fire. Her teacher, Kendra Andrews, remembered her arriving with a “beaming bright smile” and later praised the hard work she put into perfecting her choreography. | Source: Instagram/kendraandrews

The teenager resumed rehearsing and worked hard on her choreography between sessions. Kendra noticed how much progress Fiona had made when she returned for another lesson. “The next video is our second rehearsal a few weeks later. You had clearly spent so much time outside of the studio working hard to fine-tune and finesse.”

Fiona Lowe rehearses in a dance studio, working through her choreography during a second rehearsal a few weeks after her return. Her teacher, Kendra Andrews, noticed the teenager’s progress. | Source: Instagram/kendraandrews

Fiona eventually performed the routine, giving her teacher another reason to admire her determination. After Fiona’s death, Kendra shared the videos of her student practicing a routine to Taylor Swift’s “The Archer,” praising her “passion and determination.”

“Your passion and determination were incredibly beautiful to witness,” adding, “FiFi, I love you more than words can convey.” She added that their hearts were shattered, writing, “It was an honor to teach you, laugh with you, and watch you grow. Our hearts are shattered. We will never be the same without you here. I will miss you and love you forever.”

Her Final Instagram Post Was About the Passion She Loved

Dance also appeared in one of the final pieces of Fiona’s public social-media life. In August, Fiona uploaded a Reel to Instagram showing herself dancing. She captioned the reel, “Some fun turns from yesterday!💕✨🔥 DW: @joandjax and @lululemon.”

At the time, it appeared to be nothing more than an ordinary post from a 13-year-old sharing something she enjoyed. There was no goodbye attached to the video and no indication that anyone viewing it would later see it differently.

Fiona Lowe practices ballet in a dance studio, balancing on one foot as she extends her leg during a routine. The image captures the teenager’s dedication to dance, a passion that remained part of her life in the months before her death. | Source: Instagram/fiona.lowe.dances

But after Fiona’s death, the Reel became one of the final public records of her life and a reminder of the passion that had been such a significant part of her childhood. The timing makes the post particularly poignant. Fiona had spent months rebuilding parts of her routine after the fire, returning to the dance studio and continuing to work on her performances.

Her final Reel showed that side of her again — a teenager dancing rather than a child defined by tragedy.

Fiona Lowe performs a dance routine in the studio, captured mid-movement with one leg extended and her arms positioned as she works through the choreography. | Source: Instagram/fiona.lowe.dances

Her Family Remembered the Girl Behind the Headlines

Fiona’s community also remembered her for much more than the circumstances surrounding her death. People who knew her at school described her as “sweet, quiet and kind,” while another source remembered her as having “a very artistic soul.”

Many of her friends stayed home from school following her death as classmates struggled with the loss. Her family, meanwhile, continued sharing glimpses of the girl they knew at home. Her grandfather, Chuck Lowe, shared a tribute. He posted a photograph of his granddaughter swimming and kept his message heartbreakingly simple: “Rest in peace, sweet Fiona.”

Fiona’s older sister, Mabel, also posted childhood photographs and videos of the sisters together. One of the slides of the carousel included moments of them playing, dressing up, spending time outdoors, and simply growing up side by side.

Mabel and Fiona are pictured together as young sisters, squeezed into a small upholstered chair and smiling for the camera. The candid childhood moment captures the easy closeness between them, with Mabel sitting just behind Fiona as they share an ordinary day at home. | Source: Instagram/mabellowe_

turning an ordinary bedtime scene into a snapshot of their relationship. Mabel and Fiona share an affectionate moment in their childhood bedroom, with Fiona leaning over the white crib in white pajamas and a pacifier while Mabel smiles beside her in bright blue patterned pajamas. The sisters appear completely at ease together, capturing a sweet glimpse of their bond during childhood. | Source: Instagram/mabellowe_

Some of the photographs showed Fiona and Mabel squeezed together as young sisters, while others captured them playing in a Radio Flyer wagon, sharing a childhood bedroom or holding hands as they crossed a street.

Mabel and Fiona share a playful moment in a large red Radio Flyer wagon, with Mabel giving two thumbs-up while Fiona smiles beside her. A purple bag and several toys sit between them, while a green hula hoop and children’s slide are visible in the sunny backyard behind them. | Source: Instagram/mabellowe_

Then comes a childhood holiday memory. The girls stand outside a home, apparently dressed for Halloween, with Mabel wearing a bright blue T-shirt, patterned green pants, and a large pink bow headband. Her younger sister wears a pink-and-white polka-dot dress, dark leggings, and pink sandals. Pumpkins and other seasonal details are visible around the doorway. | Source: Instagram/mabellowe_

Other images showed Fiona alone, including one striking photograph of her in a dance pose. The collection ultimately made one thing especially clear: Fiona’s story stretched far beyond the tragedy that ended her life.

Fiona appears in a striking dance portrait, dressed in a black sleeveless outfit with a pale pink skirt as she balances on one leg and raises the other high beside her. Set against a dark studio backdrop, she holds the pose with a calm, focused expression, placing her love of dance at the center of the final image. | Source: Instagram/mabellowe_

Mabel’s Message Made the Family’s Loss Even More Personal

Mabel, 17, eventually put her grief into words alongside the collection of memories. “I love you so much fiona ❤️. I wish your short time here was easier, and I hope your mind is at ease now. I will honor you forever and keep your memory alive. I love you; I hope you knew just how much.”

The message followed photographs that showed Fiona at different stages of childhood, from carefree days with her sister to later moments centered on her love of dance. Another particularly poignant memory reportedly came from an old video Mabel shared on Sunday in which a much younger Fiona was asked about her favorite color.

“Well, I like three colors,” Fiona stated matter-of-factly, “but my really favorite color is light pink, like the color of new ballet shoes.”

Mabel and Fiona are pictured as young sisters on a sunny beach, with Fiona playfully buried in the sand as Mabel smiles behind her. The carefree childhood moment now carries a poignant weight following Fiona’s death. | Source: Instagram/mabellowe_

Little Fiona dances with carefree energy, spinning around in her homemade costume as she plays. The joyful childhood moment preserves a glimpse of her personality long before she grew into the girl her family would remember for her creativity and love of dance. | Source: Instagram/mabellowe_

Chad Had Once Told Fiona to ‘Keep Dancing Through Life’

Chad had celebrated Fiona becoming a teenager in November 2025 with a loving birthday message. “Celebrating Fiona officially becoming a teen today!! Keep dancing through life FiBear! Love you soooo much!!”

At the time, it was simply a proud father celebrating his daughter’s milestone. Months later, however, the words became another reminder of how closely dance had been woven into Fiona’s life.

Her teacher, her family and her own social-media posts all pointed back to the same passion.

Her Cousin Shared a Message About Hope

Fiona’s extended family has also been mourning her loss. Rob Lowe’s youngest son, John Owen Lowe, 30, shared a moving message on his Instagram Stories days after Fiona’s death. John Owen posted Emily Dickinson’s poem “Hope Is the Thing With Feathers,” a poem centered on hope enduring through hardship.

The poem partly reads, “HOPE is the thing with feathers that perches in the soul, and sings the tune without the words, and never stops at all. And sweetest in the gale is heard; and sore must be the storm that could abash the little bird that kept so many warm.”

His post came shortly after his 13-year-old cousin died, adding another quiet expression of grief from within the Lowe family. The tribute arrived as relatives and friends continued to share memories of Fiona rather than allowing the circumstances of her death to become the only story told about her.

John Owen Lowe shared Emily Dickinson’s “Hope Is the Thing With Feathers” on his Instagram Stories, a poignant tribute following the death of his 13-year-old cousin, Fiona. The poem’s words about hope enduring through hardship add an emotional layer to his remembrance. | Source: Instagram/johnnylowe

Rob and the Lowe Family Came Together in a Time of Unthinkable Grief

After Fiona’s death, Chad’s brother, Rob, and the wider family rallied around Chad and Kim. A source told PEOPLE that “Rob and Chad are very close. Their family and friends have rallied around Chad and Kim,” the insider said. “Everyone’s heartbroken.”

“They already went through so much with losing their home last year,” the source said, adding that the focus was on supporting Chad and Kim however possible.

The loss of the home therefore became an unavoidable part of the family’s recent history — and, according to Robinson, a painful experience that had particularly affected Fiona.

Rob Lowe and his younger brother Chad Lowe share a close bond that has carried through difficult times, including the loss of Chad’s family home in the Palisades fire. | Source: Getty Images

Fiona’s Death Was Announced in September

Chad and Kim announced Fiona’s death on September 29, 2026, describing her as “a loving young girl who was smart, creative and loved to dance.”

“She was adored by her sisters, and she was deeply loved by her parents,” the family said. “In fact, she was the light of our lives.” Emergency services had responded to the family’s Los Angeles home shortly after midnight, and Fiona was transported to a local hospital, where she was pronounced dead.

The Los Angeles County Medical Examiner subsequently ruled her death a suicide. The family asked for privacy while also encouraging anyone struggling with mental health to seek help through the suicide prevention helpline.

A Childhood Full of Little Moments Is What Remains

Now, the photographs, videos and memories of Fiona have taken on a meaning none of them were meant to carry. There is Fiona as a little girl beside Mabel, Fiona Lowe playing outdoors, Fiona returning to dance after losing her home, Fiona celebrating her 13th birthday, and Fiona dancing in the final Reel she shared online.

There is also the memory Robinson offered of a child who walked up to a lonely classmate and simply asked, “Do you want to be friends?”

That may ultimately be one of the most lasting pictures of Fiona: not the circumstances of her death, but the girl who made other people feel welcome, loved, danced, and kept growing alongside her sisters despite everything her family had endured.

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The National Suicide Prevention Lifeline is 1-800-273-8255. Other international suicide helplines can be found at befrienders.org.