Marlo Thomas Pays Tribute to Late Mother on What Would Have Been Her 109th Birthday

Marlo Thomas keeps the memories of her parents alive and celebrates them publicly every Mother's and Father's Day, without fail. The actress thanks her mother for pouring into the lives of her siblings and father through difficult sacrifices.

Marlo Thomas indeed has a special place in her memories for her parents, more so her mother. Marlo's mother was born at the beginning of March 1914. Earlier on, the actress took to Instagram to remember her mother on what would have been her 109th birthday.

The picture shows the actress's mother, Rose Marie Thomas, performing on stage next to a picture of Marlo beside her mother. They were both age-old photographs; therefore, they were captured with a greyscale camera.

The actress wrote in the caption, "Today is my Mom's birthday. She would be 109! One thing is for sure, she is singing in the heavens! Happy Birthday, Mommie!" Judging by the image and her caption, Marlo's mother was a seasoned singer and performer.

Marlo often takes pictures of moments in her life and became grateful that she did just that when she stumbled upon a photograph of her parents visiting her and her husband, Phil Donahue, at their Connecticut residence in 1987. "I'm so glad I'm always taking photos, or I wouldn't have this terrific picture," she said in the caption.

Even when her mother is not the subject of her throwback, she finds a way to sneak in a little appreciative message in honor of her memory. She posted a throwback picture of herself on her eighth birthday and wrote, "You can tell how excited I was from the smile on my face. My mother gave me the corsage, and I felt so grown up."

Marlo's Mother Sacrificed Her Career for Her Family

Marlo's celebration of her parents' lives is a constant occurrence. She celebrates them every year on Mother's Day and Father's Day and any other opportunities to do so. The actress's relationship with her deceased father was well known, but her connection to her mother was quite remarkable.

She once opened up about how she feels on parental holidays now that her parents are not around anymore. The actress revealed that those were sad days, and she would give up a lot to spend a few hours with them. Marlo once reflected on her mother's devotion to her as a child and attributed her trajectory in life to the love she was shown.

She described Rose Marie as a "strong-willed and opinionated woman" whose undying support for her offspring soaked into their mindset, gave them the bravery to live the desired life, and pointed them in the right direction.

Marlo's mother gave up on her singing career to be there for her husband and children. Rose Marie's decision did not sit well with her daughter, who said, "It makes me sad to think that all of that joy she found in her work came to an end."

Marlo's mother giving up on her dreams inspired her to march and lobby during the 1970s feminist movement. She admits that Rose Marie's sacrifices were stuck in her mind, and in her honor, she's been an activist for women's choice to support their families while following their dreams.

Before Marlo began dating Phil, he surprised her with an inquiry about her mother. Moments before interviewing the actress, Phil asked if he could ask some questions about her mother, much to her astonishment—Marlo's famous father was the usual go-to for interviewers.

"No one had ever asked about my mother," Marlo said, as she felt touched by her husband-to-be's concern. During the interview, Phil learned that in addition to Marlo's mother being a singer before marriage, she was also a host on a Detroit radio station.

Marlo, her parents' eldest child, was born on November 21, 1937. She is an actress who has appeared on shows like "Ballers," starring proud husband and father of two, Dwayne Johnson, and more notably, the lead of "That Girl." She married Phil in May 1980, but there was a bit of tension between her and his five children.