Catherine O’Hara’s most memorable quotes about motherhood are made even more poignant in the wake of the «Home Alone» star’s death at 71<\/b>
\nAs Hollywood mourns the loss of Catherine O\u2019Hara, fans of the Home Alone star are looking back at how the late actress discussed the most important role of her life \u2014 mom.
\u201cI\u2019m proud to say, we all make each other laugh,\u201d O\u2019Hara told the Toronto Star in 2007 of life with her sons Matthew and Luke, who she shared with her husband, Bo Welch.
\u201cIn my home, growing up \u2014 I learned that from my parents,\u201d she continued at the time. \u201cThey made each other laugh to the end, God bless \u2018em. How great is that?\u201d
She added of her sons, \u201cThey\u2019re very funny, and we encourage it. The older one does Warners cartoon bits, really old-fashioned, cheap-a** funny vaudeville stuff. And the little one does word play.\u201d
News broke on January 30, 2026, that O\u2019Hara died at the age of 71. No cause of death was immediately given, though the actress was reportedly battling an illness and hospitalized in \u201cserious condition\u201d prior to her death.
Despite her successful career starring in some of the most beloved and iconic TV shows and films, including The Nightmare Before Christmas, Beetlejuice, Home Alone, Schitt\u2019s Creek and Best in Show, O\u2019Hara made it clear that she always put motherhood first.
\u201cI\u2019m with my family as much as I can be,\u201d she told 519 Magazine in 2019. \u201cIn deciding what work I might get involved in for my whole working life, my family\u2019s always come first. I have two sons, and when they were babies, I thought, \u2018What\u2019s the point?\u2019 What\u2019s the point in having children if I\u2019m not going to be with them, so that was always number one consideration and always will be.\u201d
Keep scrolling to learn more about O\u2019Hara\u2019s thoughts on being a mom, as well as the insight she shared about her beloved family.
\u201cI really didn\u2019t work much,\u201d O\u2019Hara said during an October 2024 appearance on Julia Lois-Dreyfus\u2019 \u201cWiser Than Me\u201d podcast. \u201cAnd I\u2019d work in town. I remember the first offer I got to work, they were both\u2026probably about 5 and 8, maybe 6 and 9. And I got offered a job in London.\u201d
She continued, \u201cAnd it was a six-week job, and we had a great nanny at the time. She wasn\u2019t live-in, but she was great, great, great girl. She came for two weeks. I was alone for two weeks. They came back for two weeks, you know, got them out of school whatever. So I thought, you\u2019ve always heard that with relationships, with couples, two weeks is the limit. It shouldn\u2019t go longer than that apart, unless it works for both of you.\u201d
\u201cI\u2019m with my family as much as I can be,\u201d the late actress told 519 Magazine in 2019. \u201cIn deciding what work I might get involved in for my whole working life, my family\u2019s always come first. I have two sons, and when they were babies, I thought, \u2018What\u2019s the point?\u2019 What\u2019s the point in having children if I\u2019m not going to be with them, so that was always number one consideration and always will be.\u201d
In a previous TMZ clip that went viral shortly after news broke of Ohara\u2019s death, the actress said the role she most wanted to be remembered for was the role of \u201cmother.\u201d
\u201cTo my children,\u201d she added, before adding that an \u201cacting role\u201d she most wants to be remembered for is the role of \u201chis wife,\u201d referring to her husband, Bo Welch.
\u201cI\u2019m kidding,\u201d O\u2019Hara joked of her husband.
\u201cI\u2019m proud to say, we all make each other laugh,\u201d O\u2019Hara told the Toronto Star in 2007 of life with her sons, Matthew and Luke.
\u201cIn my home, growing up \u2014 I learned that from my parents,\u201d she continued at the time. \u201cThey made each other laugh to the end, God bless \u2018em. How great is that? They\u2019re very funny, and we encourage it. The older one does Warners cartoon bits, really old-fashioned, cheap-a** funny vaudeville stuff. And the little one does word play.\u201d
\u201cIn movies you can quickly establish yourself as one thing, you know? But at the same time, how can I complain?\u201d O\u2019Hara said in a resurfaced interview with MTV. \u201cI was part of a really successful, fun movie. And it\u2019s a very nice role to play, a mother, and I wish I had five kids in real life. I\u2019m certainly old enough to, so who am I kidding?\u201d
She added, \u201cAnd I\u2019m lucky that I\u2019m seen as anything, so I shouldn\u2019t grasp at wanting other opportunities.\u201d<\/p>\n