'Cake Boss' Star Buddy Valastro Wrote a Beautiful Tribute to His Late Mother

Late last year, Cake Boss star Buddy Valastro lost his mother, Mary, after an eight-year battle with ALS. And on what would have been her 70th birthday, he shared a poignant message to honor her memory.

On Tuesday, Buddy posted a photo on Instagram of himself at a photo shoot, with his mother giving him a kiss on the cheek. “Spending today remembering just how much we love and miss our dear momma,” he wrote in the photo’s caption. "Wish we were all together celebrating but hope she’s having a great time with dad. Happy birthday!”

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Mary Valastro died at 69 on June 22, 2017, after a long struggle with ALS, also known as Lou Gehrig’s disease, Peoplereported. Buddy wrote an emotional message on Instagram confirming the sad news that day. “Her battle with ALS has ended, she is no longer suffering and I hope she’s dancing to ‘I Will Survive’ with my dad right now.”

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Carlo’s Bakery in Hoboken, New Jersey, honored her memory by covering the outside of the building with flowers.

After Mary was diagnosed with ALS in 2012, Buddy started the Momma Mary Foundation, with the aim of raising awareness and money about the condition. Back in 2014, Buddy took part in the viral “ice bucket challenge” to support ALS research, and nominated the rest of the staff of Carlo’s Bakery, and his fans, to take part next.

“I’ve seen the most independent, lively person that I’ve ever met in my life — I mean, she was just like a ball of energy – reduced to not being able to do anything for herself,” Buddy told People in 2014. “And I think that’s the part that kills her the most because she was the matriarch. She did so many things for everyone. And now everyone has to do for her, which nobody minds doing — it’s just a big pill to swallow.”

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