Heather Tom Mourns the Death of Her Mother Marie
Please join us in sending love to soap star Heather Tom (Katie, THE BOLD & THE BEAUTIFUL; Kelly, ONE LIFE TO LIVE; ex-Victoria, THE YOUNG & THE RESTLESS) as she mourns the passing of her beloved mother, Marie. The actress shared a video montage of beautiful photographs of her mother on Instagram that chronicled her amazing life as well as a heartfelt tribute to the woman who raised her.
“At 12:20 a.m. Sunday morning, my brother, David, my sister, Nicholle, and her all but adopted son, Michael, held my beautiful mother’s hand, kissed her face, and whispered ‘I love you’ as she passed from this world to the next,” Tom said. “She was my biggest champion and my most important influence.”
Tom’s post went on to share just some of her mother’s wonderful qualities. “My mother loved to have fun,” she declared. “She loved to sing and dance and cook and throw parties. She loved to drag out the silver and china and crystal and set a beautiful table, because what was the point of having nice things if you never used them? My mother loved to go to lunch and have a glass of champagne. She loved clothes and shoes and bags and makeup and she would wear her purchases out of the store because what was the point of buying something special if you didn’t enjoy it?
“My mother loved a big city — first Chicago then New York,” the Emmy winner continued. “She loved getting dolled up for the theater and going to the Emmys and cheering on her children because what was the use of working hard if you didn’t relish it?”
Tom also shared some follow-up posts that included some of Marie’s beautiful paintings. “My mother was an artist who loved to paint and draw and decorate,” she explained. “Her Christmas tree was epic! She used her art and puppet shows, gardening, and three masters degrees to help countless students communicate. She loved toy poodles and Mexican food, margaritas, and Elvis Presley. She had her heart broken but picked herself up. She was a good friend and a mother to many more than just the three of us.”
Tom will always be grateful to her mother for making her the woman she has become. “My mother showed us that hardship wasn’t something to fear — it was just another adventure,” she said. “Dream big, take risks. Our biggest adventure was when she packed us all up and moved to L.A. For our sake, she became a single mother. For our sake, she risked her security, however unhappy it was, and her risk was our reward.
“Whatever talent we have is hers,” Tom concluded. “Whatever drive we have is hers. I will miss her every day, but when I look into my son’s eyes, I’ll see hers looking back at me, because his eyes are hers. I am so grateful to have had my hand on her heart when she took her last breath, and I will feel her hand on my heart until I take mine. I love you, mama. Enjoy your peace. You deserve it.”
