Washington, July 24 -- Chris Anne Affleck, the mother of Academy Award-winning actors Ben Affleck and Casey Affleck, has died at the age of 83.

Her family announced that she passed away peacefully in her sleep on June 2 after being diagnosed with pancreatic cancer in December, as per The Hollywood Reporter.

Born Christine Anne Boldt in New York City in December 1942, Chris Affleck built a distinguished career outside the spotlight. A graduate of Harvard University, she spent 35 years as a public school teacher before retiring in 2008.

She was also a committed civil rights advocate and served as one of the original Freedom Riders who travelled into the Deep South during the 1960s.

Chris and her former husband, Timothy Affleck, welcomed...