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Domestic Doyenne Stewart Loses Her Mother, Mentor

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The Tampa Tribune

Published: November 18, 2007

Martha Kostyra, whose daughter Martha Stewart credits her with teaching her many domestic tricks and techniques, has died at a hospital near her home in Weston, Conn. She was 93.

Stewart announced her mother's death Saturday on her blog, and Weston Selectman Glenn Major confirmed the death.

Kostyra, a retired teacher whose family long ago nicknamed her "Big Martha," died Friday at Norwalk Hospital of undisclosed causes, according to a notice published Saturday in local newspapers.

Kostyra and her husband, the late Edward Kostyra, raised the future domestic doyenne and her five siblings in Nutley, N.J., where, Stewart said, she learned many tricks of what later turned into her trade.

James Brown's Family Maintains Turkey Tradition
A Thanksgiving tradition sponsored by James Brown is being continued in the first year after the soul pioneer's death with the annual turkey giveaway in his hometown of Augusta, Ga.

In his place, longtime confidant and civil rights activist the Rev. Al Sharpton will hand out the first turkey Monday.

Brown started the turkey tradition in 1991. He died of heart failure last Christmas at age 73.

More than 1,000 turkeys are usually distributed at the pre-Thanksgiving event, said the Rev. Larry Fryer, who assisted Brown with previous giveaways. The Brown family also will continue Brown's annual Christmas toy giveaway Dec. 20.

Today's Birthdays

Actress Linda Evans is 65. Comedian Kevin Nealon is 54. Actor Owen Wilson is 39. Actress Chloe Sevigny is 33.

Source: The Associated Press

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