Kevin Smith pays tribute to his mother, Grace, who died on Monday night after a sudden deterioration in her health.
He Office workers The director shared the heartbreaking news on December 2 and spoke about the loss of the woman he called his greatest support.
Just days before his death, Smith flew to Florida for what he described as an “unplanned emergency trip to see Mom, who was suddenly on the brink of death.”
In that previous update, he said she had “recovered, back from the brink” over Thanksgiving weekend. Grace was due to celebrate her 80th birthday later this month.
Smith announced his death in a touching Instagram post, sharing memories and photos of their time together.
“The bill for 55 years of unconditional love was due on December 1, and the high price was having to see the strongest person I have ever known, my favorite person in the world, walk off stage after a lifetime of preparing it for her children. My mom is gone,” he wrote.
He described Grace as “the first person I ever loved” and someone with a “stronger heart who had a tendency to put everyone else first.”
She raised Smith alongside her siblings Donald Jr. and Virginia with her father Don, who died in 2003.
Calling her “a lioness, fiercely protective of her pride,” Smith said his mother made him feel valued and loved every day.
“My mom made me feel like I mattered: to our family, to the world, and especially to her,” he shared.
The filmmaker credited his mother for believing in him before anyone else. He told his fans that she was his “biggest fan,” adding, “If you like me or anything I've done, she was the model.”
Smith also revealed that he will be leaving several scheduled appearances in tears.
“I will miss her for the rest of my days, but I also know how lucky I was to have had all the time I did with my mom,” he wrote, explaining that he intends to “grieve Grace for a while.”
Smith, who has daughter Harley Quinn Smith with wife Jennifer Schwalbach, ended his tribute with a personal message to his mother: “Thank you for taking me on the journey of my life. I love you so much, Mom. You have always been and will always be my hero. Love, Tiger.”
