Charlotte Rae: Edna Garrett

Quotes 

• Tootie Ramsey : You know what I don't understand? How come there are no flowers? When somebody dies, people usually send flowers.

  Jo Polniaczek : Not to a shiva house.

  Blair Warner : What's shiva?

  Edna Garrett : Shiva is the Jewish period of mourning, and the family follows certain customs you know, like wearing that black ribbon.

  Jo Polniaczek : Yeah, and there's no music or TV allowed.

  Blair Warner : [sees a sheet draped on the mantle]  I wonder what that is.

  Edna Garrett : It's a mirror, but in a shiva house all the mirrors are covered.

  Blair Warner : Why?

  Jo Polniaczek : Because they're a symbol of vanity, Blair, and they're out of place in a house of mourning.