The Little House on the Prairie star Hersha Parady has died at the age of 78 after a battle with her illness.
The beloved TV actress, who portrayed teacher Alice Garvey in the NBC series, died on Wednesday at son Jonathan Peverall’s home in Virginia.
Her passing was confirmed by her son who told The Hollywood Reporter that his mother had been battling a brain tumor for some time.
Peverall previously launched a GoFundMe page and raised over $20,000 for his mother’s medical expenses.
Today, he announced his mother’s passing on that same page as he wrote:
“My mother was a talented actor, but more importantly a beloved presence in many hearts – more than I had ever realized. I have been consistently astonished by the number of people that have expressed to me her impact on their lives.
“I want to convey my thanks to all of you for your support, but also to those of you that have shared with me your personal relationships and experiences with my mom; you all have shown me a part of her life that I had only glimpsed over the years.”
The son’s statement continued: “Despite what I could only describe as her being ‘difficult’ at times, she was the best mother. She was also a doting grandmother, and her three grandchildren, who brought immense joy to her life, will miss her dearly.
“She fought a courageous battle against a challenging medical condition, and even in her struggle, she continued to inspire us with her strength and resilience.point 252 |
Your support throughout this journey has meant more than words can express.point 64 | Your contributions, your messages of encouragement, and your presence in her life have made a difference and we are profoundly grateful for your kindness and generosity.point 208 |
”point 3 | 1
Parady began her acting career in the 1970s after appearing in an episode of Bearcats! From there, she secured a number of roles in the likes of Mannix and The Waltons.
Hersha was arguably best known for portraying Caroline Ingalls in 35 episodes of Little House On The Prairie before the role was given to Karen Grassle.
Parady is survived by her three siblings, her son, and her three grandchildren. Our thoughts remain with her loved ones during this challenging time.