As a tribute to her, an episode of The Simpsons (1989) made since her death showed a scene in which Bart Simpson is standing at the blackboard having just written "We'll really miss you Mrs K", a reference to her character Mrs Krabappel.
While not listed in the main cast in The Simpsons (1989) her role as Edna Krabappel
is listed as a "special guest appearance," a designation usually
reserved for celebrity guest stars.
Diagnosed with breast cancer 1985. Also caregiver to her husband,
Denny, who had pancreatic cancer.
Upon her death, she was cremated and her ashes were scattered at sea in the Pacific Ocean.
She & her husband adopted a son, Michael Hawley (born in 1988).