Maria Menounos announces that her mother Litsa has passed away due to complications from brain cancer
Maria Menounos announced that her mother, Litsa, passed away due to complications from brain cancer on Sunday.
The 42-year-old media correspondent made the news public through a post made to her Instagram account, where she was seen holding her parent while lying in her bed.
The television personality also wrote a brief message in her post that partially read, ‘RIP mom. god loved her so much he took her on greek easter.’
In rememberance: Maria Menounos’ mother Litsa passed away on Sunday due to complications from brain cancer; the two are pictured together in 2018
Menounos also made a point of adding ‘Christ is risen mom’ in her mother’s native language.
The Extra host’s mother battled her cancer for five years before she eventually succumbed to the disease.
The television host also had a brain tumor removed in 2017, although the growth was deemed to be benign.
In December of last year, Menounos revealed that her parents had both been hospitalized after contracting COVID-19.
Letting everyone know: The former Access Hollywood correspondent made the news public with a post made to her Instagram account
Fighting through it: The media correspondent’s mother had battled the condition for five years
Their diagnosis came just after Litsa was informed that her condition was growing worse, although she and her husband, Costas, eventually recovered from the coronavirus.
In March, the actress appeared on Live With Kelly And Ryan and spoke at length about her mother’s battle with brain cancer.
During the interview, the media correspondent enthusiastically remarked that her mother had ‘beat COVID and she continues to be a miracle.’
Menounos also told Ryan Seacrest that, although she had reservations about leaving her parent to appear on the program, Litsa had encouraged her to do so.
Supporting each other: Menounos’ parents were previously diagnosed with COVID-19, although they later made full recoveries
‘It has been an extremely tough time…it was hard to actually come here, but she wanted me to come here,’ she said.
The Access Hollywood host went on to note that her mother was adamant that her daughter should stay strong and keep working despite her own health issues.
‘I said, “mom, is it okay if I go do Kelly and Ryan tomorrow, are you okay with that?” And she goes, “yes.” And she said it so fast, and she wasn’t even speaking up until then,’ she recalled.
Menounos concluded that she was ‘grateful I got to come home where my mom told me I did a good job.’
Still supportive: During an appearance on Live With Kelly And Ryan, Menounos expressed that, although she found it difficult to go on the show, her mother encouraged her to do so despite her health issues