R.I.P.
"Family Circus" Mommy Dies at 82

Posted May 26th 2008 9:03AM by TMZ Staff

Family CircusThe Mommy of "Family Circus" -- the kindly woman who was the mother of four rambunctious rugrats in every paper across the country -- and for millions of other kids all over the country, has passed away.

Thelma Keane, the inspiration for Mommy and the wife of the comic strip's creator, Bil Keane, died of Alzheimer's disease on Friday. Her husband's strip appears in 1,500 newspapers across the country.

"When the cartoon first appeared," said her husband, "she looked so much like Mommy that if she was in the supermarket pushing her cart around, people would come up to her and say, 'Aren't you the Mommy in 'Family Circus'?"

Filed under: R.I.P.


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1. Ahh, Rest In Peace, Thel. What a nice Mommy she was. Sorry for your loss Mr. Keane and family.

Posted at 9:17AM on May 26th 2008 by Krispy

2. awwwwww...so sad! i LOVE that comic strip -- so cute!

Posted at 9:19AM on May 26th 2008 by writergal

3. Loved that cartoon!

Posted at 9:20AM on May 26th 2008 by guy

4. Bless her heart. I have read "The Family Circus" since I was a child and loved it. God bless her and her family for so many years of such laughter.

Posted at 9:27AM on May 26th 2008 by completely disgusted

5. You wil be greatly missed I looked fwd day to read the funny strip. You made being a kid then a mom funny. Heaven has a big treat comming.

Posted at 9:28AM on May 26th 2008 by Angeldove

6. SORRY SHE IS DEAD.

Posted at 9:59AM on May 26th 2008 by Nicole

7. I understand she and "Blondie" were closet lesbians.

Posted at 10:03AM on May 26th 2008 by Roger C.

8. That is one I never passed up, thanks for the sweet memories.

Posted at 10:18AM on May 26th 2008 by Kelli

9. I have never really been a cartoon person but, Family Circus was one of two that I always read! RIP

Posted at 10:34AM on May 26th 2008 by Dallas

10. #7 Roger C - I guess tactfullness and respect wasn't something you learned as a child...

Go make fun of some other post instead of bashing people who have passed away and who brought humour to thousands of people on a daily basis.

Rest in Peace and my condolences to Mr. Keane and family

Posted at 10:37AM on May 26th 2008 by JJ

11. My deepest condolences to Mr. Keane and Family. I enjoyed each and every Family Circus cartoons I read... Those children were very fortunate to have such a loving mom (and dad, too)..

Posted at 10:51AM on May 26th 2008 by Jayne

12. RIP....my thoughts are with the Keane family.

Roger C (#7)....you are a thoughtless, insensitive jerk.

Posted at 10:58AM on May 26th 2008 by Bobbi

13. My deepest condolences to Bil and the family, how sad.....I grew up with that comic strip, and I am lucky enough to have an autographed calander from Mr. Keane.




Poster #7 Roger: How disrepectful and uncalled for. You should be ashamed of yourself!!

Posted at 10:58AM on May 26th 2008 by debv

14. #7 Roger C. is one of Harvey Levin's b*tches.

Posted at 11:46AM on May 26th 2008 by Puter Boi

15. I loved that cartoon strip but TMZ...check your facts...people don't DIE of Alzheimer's. You can have Alzheimer's but it does not cause a person's death.

Posted at 12:23PM on May 26th 2008 by GEL

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