Published: July 23, 2008

Fond Farewell To Golden Girl Estelle Getty

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"Diminutive actress Estelle Getty, who found fame late in life with her portrayal of a sharp-tongued Sicilian mother on "The Golden Girls," died Tuesday.

The 84-year-old passed away at her Los Angeles home following a long battle with Lewy body dementia, a progressive brain disease.

Getty, who stood under 5 feet tall, won an Emmy Award and a Golden Globe for her portrayal of Sophia Petrillo, a meddling mom spending her twilight years with her middle-aged daughter and two roommates on 'The Golden Girls.'"

Quotation from NYDailyNews.Com

Estelle lived a long and fruitful life, this is not a time to mourn her passing but to celebrate her achievements. I didn't think I would find a sit-com based on the lives of elderly ladies interesting, but I loved the show and I still watch the re-runs.

Estelle didn't find fame until she was in her 60's, it's never to late to start work on the Great American Novel or to embark on a new adventure. Elderly persons shouldn't be shunted aside, they can make a contribution to their friends, family and to society.

Estelle's wisecracks on the Golden Girls always got the biggest laughs; she's probably in The Big Studio In The Sky trading quips with Milton Berle.

Robert Paul Reyes is a NewsBlaze writer on Politics, Pop Culture and Pointless Pontificating. Contact him by writing to NewsBlaze.