Martha and mom being interviewed by Larry King in 2003. Stewart made her mother, Martha Kostyra, a popular guest star on her television series.
Posted on 11/18/2007 6:31:56 AM PST by COUNTrecount
Martha Stewart is mourning the death of her mother - known affectionately as Big Martha and beloved by fans for her appearances on the domestic diva's show.
Martha Kostyra died Friday at the age of 93, and her daughter broke the news on her Web site, asking fans to post memories.
"Please feel free to reflect on her amazing life," wrote Stewart, who said she was "very sad."
Kostyra's death came eight days after a visibly shaken Stewart announced on her live TV show that her mother, a former schoolteacher who raised six kids in Nutley, N.J., had suffered a small stroke and was hospitalized.
Stewart later wrote on her blog that "although her body was slowing her down, her mind remained sharp as a tack," and posted a photo of her mother smiling at her 93rd birthday party in September.
"Isn't she beautiful?" wrote Stewart of her mother.
Kostyra stoically stood by Stewart during her six-week insider-trading trial in 2004, even traveling to West Virginia to visit her in prison.
Stewart often said that she learned everything she knew about cooking and housekeeping from her mother, whose Polish family recipes were highlighted on the show and in Stewart's magazine, Martha Stewart Living.
"Well, I'll take the credit, certainly," Kostyra quipped to Larry King in a 2003 interview, acknowledging that Stewart was a perfectionist and "very fussy" growing up.
"Probably learned it from me," she added.
Stewart fan Susan Jacobsen said on the Web site that Kostyra "will be deeply missed" by viewers.
"Over the years you had brought her into our homes, I thank you for that," wrote Jacobsen. "You can tell she was a strong loving woman."
Another fan, Alcea Alba, remembered when she "met" Big Martha more than a decade ago during a TV appearance to demonstrate a family Christmas dessert.
"I couldn't believe this tiny woman had so much muscle to manipulate that huge ball of dough with ease and dexterity. Quite impressive!" she wrote
Martha and mom being interviewed by Larry King in 2003. Stewart made her mother, Martha Kostyra, a popular guest star on her television series.
Why is this news?
My God...I just don’t know how I’m going to cope.
She was a delightful lady.
Well it comes in three...jane seymour, Marie Osmond, and now Martha Stewart. Hopefully that will be it. I find it horrible that these ladies lost their mother. God bless them. It is a trying time for them. I hope they can remain strong. Life is definitely unfair with regard to death.
She was on Martha’s show a number of times, cooking her own recipes and I guess they feel she became a minor celebrity herself.
I would never write this on Stewart’s website, because it would probably hurt her feelings, but the clearest and most persistent memory I have of her mother is the look of fear on her face when she was on Martha’s show, and the way Martha bullied her, while pretending to be a sweet and loving daughter.
Once I was watching with my own mom when Mrs. Kostyra was a guest, and I wondered how that little old lady could have so much stamina, working under those hot studio lights. “Why doesn’t she wilt in all that heat?” I asked my mom, who replied, “Because she wouldn’t DARE!”
No matter what age it is always hard to lose your mother...
but I just can’t help but think this will be the most perfectly decorated and catered affair ever.
I suspect foul play.
“Martha Stewart is mourning the death of her mother....”
And this is important news because....?
“Well it comes in three...jane seymour, Marie Osmond, and now Martha Stewart. Hopefully that will be it.”
Unlikely that will be it, if you count the countless mothers who die daily but are not on the celeb news. Or did you mean just the mothers of famous people I could not care less about?
First Mrs. K, then Mr. Whipple? It’s a conspiracy, I tells ya! ;)
Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.