Mother of Martha Stewart dies at 93
HARTFORD, Conn. - Martha Kostyra, 93, whose daughter Martha Stewart credits her with teaching her many domestic tricks and techniques, died at a hospital near her home in Weston.
Stewart, who announced the death on her blog Saturday, told her daytime TV audience last week that her mother had been hospitalized after “a small stroke.”
Mrs. Kostyra, known as “Big Martha,” appeared regularly on her daughter’s show.
The retired teacher died Friday at Norwalk Hospital, according to a notice Saturday in local newspapers.
Mrs. Kostyra and her husband, the late Edward Kostyra, raised the future domestic doyenne and her five siblings in Nutley, N.J., where, Stewart said, she learned many tricks of what turned into her trade.
Material from the Los Angeles is included in this report.