It’s been half a century since the legendary Judy Garland left us, but her presence remains deeply felt by those who loved her most—especially her three children. Her middle child, Lorna Luft, recently spoke candidly about the incredible person her mom truly was. Lorna, now in her 60s, shared heartfelt memories in a recent Sunday Times Post interview, revealing just how much her mother meant to her.
“She was an amazing mom—so loving, always hugging and kissing us, and she had this wicked sense of humor that could light up any room,” Lorna reflected. “Mom understood human flaws better than anyone. She was empathetic, compassionate, and hated discrimination with every fiber of her being. She loved everyone, no matter who they were or where they came from. Both my parents, including my dad, Sidney Luft, instilled in me the values of kindness, understanding, and gratitude for life’s blessings.” Sidney, Judy’s third husband, passed away in 2005, but his influence on their family lives on.
A Loss That Changed Everything
Lorna was just 16 years old when her mother tragically passed away due to a barbiturate overdose. She vividly recalls the devastating moment and the overwhelming sense of loss that followed. “When she died on June 22, 1969, in the bathroom of her Chelsea mews house, it felt like the world stopped turning,” Lorna said. “The shock was unbearable. Losing a parent at any age is heartbreaking, but when you lose someone who’s not just a parent but a global icon, it’s a whole different level of grief. Suddenly, I wasn’t just mourning my mom—I was mourning a legend known to millions around the world.”
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She added, “To me, she was simply Mom, the one who’d be in the kitchen in her bathrobe, making breakfast or humming a tune. But to the rest of the world, she was Judy Garland, the star of The Wizard of Oz and countless other classics. Sharing that grief with the entire world was strange and overwhelming.”
Growing Up With a Legend for a Mom
Judy Garland was only 47 when she passed, leaving behind not only Lorna but also her older sister, Liza Minnelli, and younger son, Joey Luft. Despite her demanding career, Judy made sure her children felt loved and cared for. “We had a nanny and household help because Mom was always working—making movies, recording albums, performing,” Lorna explained. “She was ahead of her time—a working mom in the late '50s and early '60s when most women stayed at home. Even though she’d come home exhausted after long days, she’d still find the energy to sing us lullabies before bedtime. She was superwoman in every sense of the word.”
