Cynthia Lennon, first wife of John Lennon and mother of Julian Lennon, died Wednesday at the age of 75.

Cynthia Powell was born in Blackpool, Lancashire in 1939. She met Lennon in art college and the two were married in 1962,  shortly before The Beatles recorded “Love Me Do.” Throughout the height of Beatlemania, Cynthia stayed home to raise their son, Julian. Their existence was hidden from Beatles fans to make John seem more available to female fans. In 1968, the two were divorced.

Cynthia told her story in two memoirs, “A Twist of Lennon” and “John.” She remarried four times, most recently to Noel Charles, who died in 2013.

She is survived by her son Julian.