Good night, Thel

The inspiration for Thel/Thelma/Mommy in Family Circus has died.

I like to joke about the gooniness of Family Circus (Who does? NOT ME!), but I can only offer sympathy here. She sounds like an awesome lady -- and was actually an Australian, Bil Keane met her Down Under during WW II. I actually like Thelma in the strip better when I think of her as an Aussie.

She apparently looked so much like her cartoon likeness that people would recognize her in the grocery store.

Sadly, she had Alzheimer's, and spent her last years in assisted living.