'Real Housewives of New Jersey' Star Danielle Staub's Mother Dies

By PopEater Staff Posted Mar 29th 2010 08:40AM

Danielle Staub's mother -- Ruth Merrill -- has passed away at the age of 75.

The controversial star of 'The Real Housewives of New Jersey' tells PEOPLE that none of her co-stars have offered their sympathy or support, but admits that's she's fine with it.

"They weren't my friends before the show, they weren't friends with me on the show, and they won't be friends with me when the show has come and gone. I don't expect them to reach out to me. I would actually be shocked. I would prefer not to have people be fake around me," she says.

Merrill died of a stroke on March 21.

"She's on the show a little bit, she's definitely a voice of reason with me," Staub adds of her mother. "She was a sweet woman, she adopted me, I was her miracle. She was one of the most energetic women. She was a very religious woman, a God-fearing woman."

"I'm finding it very difficult, but I don't want to control it. I'm fine, and then I'm not," she reveals of dealing with her death.

"It goes in waves. When you lose your mother it's hard to describe. You don't know to prepare. You think you do, but you don't, so I'm feeling a little lost. I want to call her but I can't. And my daughters are now left without their grandmother."

Danielle is trying to be strong for her two daughters. "I allow myself a little bit to fall apart after I drop them off at school. No child wants to see their mom sad. I'm trying to help them through the situation. My mom taught me to be there for my kids."

Of her villainous role on 'Housewives,' she doesn't care. "I know it's strange, but I don't put a lot of stock in how I'm portrayed anymore. I'm on a journey. As my mom taught me, you can only do your best. She would tell me all the time, 'You're not here to prove yourself to anyone. You're here to live your life.' My mom's always been proud of me."

Tags: danielle staub, real housewives of new jersey

Comments

(43)

Monday 29 March

By Lori

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Danielle, I know how you must be feeling. I lost my mum 2 years ago... Im so glad that I met her and everything that she said to me, I remember. I know now that there is a special place in her "soul" for me and the same for me for her. Im glad I was part of her journey. :--)

By me

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Money does not buy class!!!!!

By Soho

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Hey, thanks for letting me know this, but next time you might add a paragraph explaining why I should care.

By pat

It amazes me as to how people are so mean spirited. She lost her mom. Treat others the way that you want to be treated

By Darlene

Im sorry for your lost, but with that said you start off the conversation again about yourself and how your castmates are treating you when you should have started this concersation out how your ended it, talking about your Mom, that would have been more respectable!

By Mike

So why is this news?

By shae

Seriously? My dad passed away last Thursday, why not put that on aol news? It's just as important and a lot more interesting than Danielle, he actually did something with his life.

By Steven

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You just did! Those who really do things for the right reasons don't do it for fame.

By sat3urn

Does this mean you won't be on the show anymore? Yay!! We won't miss you!

By A Grandmother

Did you ever notice she was the only one who didn't scream, act like a nutcase, or a high school-er...she was always calm, collected and behaved as an adult woman with children should respond. The fact that those other women actedlike that in front of her children was beyond tolerable to watch...they will forever be marked by the lousy behavior.
I cannot judge her and neither should you...that ex of hers is probably as full of bull crap as Teresa and the little squatty one [the family 'head']...they all act like children hurt on the playground.
I think Danielle has learned more in life than any of the ones with silver spoons hanging out of their mouths.

By ronald

heres how to contact your mom tell her to touch near the physical objects and not the object itself this is the only way she can touch objects and move them.

By johnny

who cares about this bimbos mother - I rather read about a war hero dying for our country - and please do we have to read about lesbians everyday - news headlines are not to be believe

Wednesday 22 September

By wrangler003

THen why are you here if the new's would be better to read. Go to the news page already and shut up.

By Linda

What is this "ME" "ME" "ME"? Is it all about her? Poor me, poor me.

By Shelley

Everytime the homepage says something about a Housewife I always click on it thinking it's an actual star from Desperate Housewives but no it is always about some skanks I could'nt care less about.

By Gator_fan

I am u Shelley
I do the same, thinking Desperate. :)
Well, I recently lost my Mom and she was right about one thing, you think you are prepared, BUT, NEVER-NEVER!! I miss her everyday and our daily conversations. NOTHING is the same. So painful for anyone to lose a loved one.
Don't understand why these reality shows are showing up in droves. The networks are in BIG TROUBLE, then they cancel shows they have worth airing.

By BigMama

Danielle: While I may not have always agreed with the way you are portrayed on the show, I feel very sorry for your loss. I'm glad to still have both my parents in my life and my children's lives and cannot imagine the pain you must be feeling.

Hang in there and know that God is with you. It's all part of life, sad as it is. God Bless you and your family.

By michele

Ok her name isn't Danielle it is Beverly Merrill. Keep it honest and real and Beverly chose to pull herself away by creating a life for herself based on ickiness and sickness. Danielle is merely a character on tv who is a little bit of a wack job. Yeah I am sorry her mother died but so did a lot of other mothers and fathers and aunts and uncles and cousins and nieces and nephews, what makes this person worth the press or time? Hmmmmm!

By sunny

I am sorry for her loss but I am wondering:
Do we REALLY need to know this??
It is personal, it is NOT news.

By Lil Lin

Please STOP calling these bimbos "stars" or "celebrites". They are not.

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