US News

GIULIANI MOURNS MOM ON 9/11 EVE

Former Mayor Rudy Giuliani mourned for his mother, Helen, yesterday – just days before the first anniversary of his leading New York in grieving the deaths of thousands last Sept. 11.

Giuliani was at his mother’s bedside with his companion Judith Nathan when she passed away early yesterday morning from complications of old age at Mount Sinai Medical Center. Giuliani’s two children, Andrew and Caroline, and other relatives also were at the hospital.

Helen D’Avanzo Giuliani, who would have turned 93 later this month, had been in poor health for about 18 months.

An active campaigner for her son’s first unsuccessful mayoral bid in 1989 and his two wins in 1993 and 1998, she said before his last inauguration, “Someday, I will see him sworn in as president.”

Yesterday, Giuliani was “saddened but strong, and will always cherish her love and valuable lessons,” said Sunny Mindel, Giuliani’s spokeswoman.

After his mother died, Giuliani, 58, spoke to his staff about her teaching him “that reading could take him anywhere,” Mindel said.

“She used to read all the New York dailies and highlight what she thought was important [for him],” she said. “She was an excellent teacher for Rudy.”

Yesterday afternoon, a somber Giuliani, his children, Nathan, Nathan’s daughter visited the Frank E. Campbell funeral home, where Helen Giuliani’s wake will continue today.

Her funeral tomorrow comes a day before the one-year anniversary of the World Trade Center terror attacks.

Mindel said he canceled today’s and tomorrow’s appearances at events in Washington, but will participate in Wednesday’s ceremony at Ground Zero.

Helen Giuliani was born on Sept. 26, 1909, the fourth of seven children.

After marrying Harold Giuliani in 1936, she gave birth to Rudolph in 1944. Harold Giuliani died in 1981 of prostate cancer. With Brigitte Stelzer and Tatiana Deligiannakis