The devastated Wreck-It Ralph star penned a moving online tribute to her mum following the tragic news on Wednesday (19Aug15), honouring O'Hara's parenting skills when Silverman was growing up.

In a post on Twitter.com, she writes, "Wednesday morning my mom died. She was a know-it-all in overalls & two different coloured socks. And defiantly, no bra.

"The woman who, when I was little, gave me detailed directions to a restaurant ladies room then secretly watched as I found my way to it on my own. The woman who went back to college at 42, and skinny dipped in ponds, and told me never to protect myself from a broken heart because it was so very worth the pain to get to experience love."

O'Hara produced and directed more than 50 plays during a career in theatre, and was presented with a lifetime achievement award by Silverman at the New Hampshire Theater Awards in 2003.