"I have beautiful memories of her" — Bethenny Frankel announces death of her mom Bernadette Birk from lung cancer at 73

Bethenny Frankel's mother Bernadette Birk, 73, died on Friday, April 19, as per a Neptune Society obituary, after her battle with lung cancer. Birk was an interior designer and her daughter confirmed the news of her death via her Instagram account on Sunday. The television personality described her mother as a "stunning woman" and paid tribute to her as she wrote:

"She was brilliant, funny, cultured and wise – yet suffered a lifelong eating disorder, alcoholism, abuse, smoking, and self destruction. Despite not being equipped to be a mother, she loved me and I have beautiful memories of her."

Frankel wrote about the duo's complicated relationship and shed light on their ups and downs.

"I think of you on this journey with me releasing your trauma and I hug you. Life is about loss and loving. I have had shame in never really having family, yet my very small group of friends, my beautiful Bryn, and you are my family," she mentioned.

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Bethenny Frankel addresses the bond she shared with her mother

The former Real Housewives of New York City star expressed her grief on her mother's demise through Instagram as she shared a series of pictures featuring her and her mom over the years. She also shared an image of her daughter, Bryn Hoppy, and Birk together.

Speaking about her childhood Bethenny Frankel stated that she experienced "things no young child should endure."

"This made me strong, tough, a survivor who is able to handle anything. The universe gave me the most beautiful daughter and my childhood gave me inspiration to break the chain," she wrote.

Furthermore, Bethenny Frankel spoke about the relationship Birk shared with her daughter Bryn, saying that she "adored" her. The 53-year-old also expressed her satisfaction with the fact that her mother had a friend and was never alone. She stated that Birk was "selfish in life, yet selfless in death" and added:

"I had a sixth sense she had passed. I had started to release some trauma, was dancing to the song 'I'm alive' in her favorite designer Alaia dress as she was dying."

Bethenny Frankel mentioned that she always wished for her mother to find peace and remembered her mom as someone who was with her "during periods of happiness."

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Bethenny Frankel and her mother's relationship

Bernadette Birk and Bethenny Frankel experienced several ups and downs in their relationship. The latter addressed the same in her book titled A Place of Yes, stating that she never felt "safe" with her mom, as per People. She also spoke to the publication about her childhood and said:

"I never had a true childhood. There was a lot of destruction: alcohol abuse, eating disorders and violent fights."

However, Frankel's daughter Bryn was the one who helped the mother-daughter duo connect after they criticized each other while speaking to the media. During her appearance on B Real with Bethenny, Frankel said:

"My daughter said, 'Mommy, are your parents alive? And I said, 'My daddy's not alive and my mommy is alive.' And she said, 'I want to meet your mommy.' And I thought, ' Oh God, I've got to reach out to her.'"

Bernadette then told Radar Online:

"I don't think she really reached out, her daughter Bryn asked about me. She didn't reach out; the daughter did."

She mentioned that did not know anything about her granddaughter and added:

"I asked her about her school and her age and just simple little questions. I didn't really speak to the mother that much."

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Birk tied the knot with Robert J. Frankel, Bethenny's father, and the duo got divorced when the reality TV star was 4 years old, as per The US Sun. She then married John Parisella, who was reportedly one of Robert's friends.