By Breaking Celebrity News Staff

Thomas Kinkade passed away nearly three weeks ago leaving behind a wife, and a mistress whom Breaking Celebrity News has exclusively learned he planned to marry.

It came as a shock to his many fans that Thomas and his wife, Nanette, had been separated for nearly a year before his death and that he'd been living with his mistress, Amy Pinto-Walsh, for the last 18 months — but those close to him knew all about it.

"They were planning on getting married as soon as the divorce was final," an insider told Breaking Celebrity News of Thomas and Amy.

"Amy was already part of his circle of friends and that really enraged Nanette. She was furious and humiliated that he not only cheated on her, but moved on so quickly and publicly with her."

As we previously reported, Nanette requested a restraining order against Amy after the revered 'Painter of Light' died, to ban her from "defaming, criticizing, disparaging or discrediting Kinkade, Nanette Kinkade, or any company owned by Kinkade," but a source tells us Nanette just doesn't want Amy to reap any of Thomas' hard-earned rewards.