Jill Zarin is mourning the loss of her mother, Gloria Kamen, who has died at the age of 91.
The former Real Housewives star announced her mother’s death Tuesday in an emotional social media tribute, revealing that Gloria died earlier that morning.
Jill shared 20 photos celebrating her mother’s life and described Gloria as much more than a parent.
She called her “my best friend, my mentor, and the most important person in my life.”
The cause and manner of Gloria’s death have not been disclosed.
Jill Zarin is saying goodbye to the woman she credits with shaping so much of her life.
The former Real Housewives star announced that her mother, Gloria Kamen, died Tuesday morning at 91.
Jill marked the loss with a lengthy Instagram tribute accompanied by 20 photographs of Gloria, offering followers a glimpse into the family matriarch’s life and the relationship they shared.
In her message, Jill described Gloria as her “best friend” and “mentor,” emphasizing the enormous role her mother played in her life.
She also remembered Gloria as someone whose influence extended beyond their immediate family.
Jill called her mother “the real OG housewife” and said she had “raised incredible women and touched the lives of millions with her counsel and kindness.”
That legacy was also reflected in the work the pair did together.
Gloria and Jill co-authored the book Secrets of a Jewish Mother, allowing them to share their experiences and advice with a much wider audience.
Jill’s tribute became particularly personal toward the end, as she thanked her mother for everything she had done for her and for helping create the family Jill cherishes.
“Thank you mommy for everything you did for me and giving me the most beautiful family.”
Jill also credited Gloria with helping shape her choices in love and family.
She wrote that her mother had picked “the best father” she could have asked for and joked that Gloria “was always right about everything,” even when it took Jill some time to realize it.
The cause and manner of Gloria’s death remain unclear based on the information available.
Jill’s announcement has since prompted an outpouring of condolences from members of the Real Housewives family.
Among those offering messages in the comments were Bethenny Frankel and Marysol Patton, along with other former Real Housewives personalities.
For Jill, however, the loss is clearly much more personal than a celebrity farewell.
She was saying goodbye to the woman she considered her closest friend and one of the most important people in her life.
Gloria Kamen became known to a wider audience through her connection to Jill and their work together on Secrets of a Jewish Mother.
The book helped introduce Gloria’s advice and perspective to readers beyond her own family, contributing to the description Jill used in her tribute about her mother touching the lives of millions.
Jill, meanwhile, became a familiar face to reality television audiences through The Real Housewives of New York City.
Her family life and relationships have been part of her public story throughout her time in the spotlight, but Gloria’s importance to Jill clearly extended far beyond what viewers saw on television.
Jill’s tribute makes clear that her mother remained a central figure in her life.
The 20 photographs accompanying Jill’s announcement also served as a visual remembrance of Gloria, highlighting the personal memories behind the public figure’s career and family story.
Gloria’s death marks the loss of a woman Jill viewed not only as her mother but as her closest confidante and mentor.
Her influence also reached beyond the Zarin family through her writing and the advice she shared publicly.
Jill’s description of Gloria as the “real OG housewife” reflects both her affection for her mother and the central role Gloria played in raising her family.
The reaction from former Real Housewives stars also underscores the connections Gloria developed through Jill’s years in the reality television world.
But amid the public condolences, Jill’s own words remain the clearest picture of what Gloria meant to her.
Jill’s tribute is filled with gratitude as much as grief.
She remembered her mother for the guidance she provided, the family she helped build and the lessons Jill says she eventually came to understand.
Her admission that Gloria was “always right” even when Jill initially failed to see it captures the familiar dynamic between a mother and daughter while giving the tribute an intimate, personal quality.
Rather than focusing solely on Gloria’s death, Jill used her message to celebrate the life and influence of the woman she loved most.
Jill Zarin is remembering Gloria Kamen as her best friend, mentor and family matriarch following her death at 91.
The cause and manner of death have not been disclosed.
