Award-winning singer, songwriter and actress Irene Cara’s final days have been revealed, as her Largo, Florida neighbors called her a “recluse.”

According to the New York Post, Irene’s neighbors shared

that the legendary entertainer was very private and didn’t socialize with them. She especially didn’t speak to them after COVID-19 hit.

“She was a recluse. She didn’t talk to anyone. I didn’t even know it was her living there until a few years ago. It was the best-kept secret ever,” Roseann Nolan, who lived across the street from her, said about the woman’s final days.

Maria Contreras, who lived next door to Irene for years, shared that she tried to befriend her before discovering she was famous. However, Maria said, she couldn’t seem to persuade the singer to even walk with her to the nearby beach and socialize. It seemed to be very puzzling, as Irene once lit up the stage with her riveting performances.

“I’d text her or call her to invite her to come for a walk, but I wouldn’t hear back for days. And she’d never call back using her cellphone. She called from her computer because she was worried about privacy. She didn’t look well, and she said she had health issues,” Maria said.

Irene’s representative, Judith Moose, and her LA-based manager of nearly 20 years, Betty McCormick, recalled a different version of the entertainer during her last days. They told the New York Post that she was busy trying to revive her career, but COVID made it very challenging.

“She was very afraid of getting the [COVID] virus. She really struggled during that period,” Betty said.

Irene reportedly left the industry after being frustrated by her former record label. Many fans have since wondered why her flourishing career fizzled out so abruptly, as she was very popular at such a young age.

As Sis2Sis reported, Irene died on Nov. 24 at the age of 63, her publicist Judith A. Moose of JM Media Group said. She passed away at her Florida home for reasons that are still unknown to the public.