Ground Zero’s “Mama” is gone, but her shining example of New York altruism is here to stay. Giuseppa Vendome, lovingly known as “Mama” among 9/11 recovery workers, died on April 29th at the age of 100, according to the Columbus Citizens Foundation.

Two days after the September 11th attacks, the Italian-American restaurateur had established an eatery on Canal Street where she, her husband Rocco, and their son Antonio “Nino” would serve over a million meals to the rescue and recovery personnel from nearby Ground Zero.