Dorothy Mengering, Mother Of David Letterman, Dies At 95

CARMEL, Ind. (CBSNewYork) -- Dorothy Mengering, the mother of David Letterman, passed away Tuesday at the age of 95.

As Kevin Frazier of "Entertainment Tonight" reported Wednesday, Mengering instantly became one of her son's most endearing guests on his late-night talk show.

Mengering made her first late night appearance back in 1986 when Letterman was host of NBC's "Late Night." She went on to be a regular guest throughout Letterman's years as host of CBS' "The Late Show."

"It makes me feel good that he thinks I can do it, even though I make him nervous, I'm sure," Mengering said of her son in 1996. "It's brought the two of us closer together, and I think that's part of the appeal."

Mengering's most famous segments on her son's show were her Olympic reports and cooking demonstrations.

"You know, the truth of it is mom makes me crazy. She drives me nuts. So we're leaving her at home," Letterman quipped in 1996.

And viewers loved watching Mengering tease Letterman in a way only a mother could.

"Sometimes I have to pinch myself – that he's mine, and that he's just Dave," she said.

Mengering's death came only a day before Letterman's 70th birthday on Wedesday.

Stephen Colbert, who succeeded Letterman as host of the "Late Show," Issued a tweet with his condolences.

An obituary written by Letterman and his siblings said their mother was happiest "when she could curl up in a quiet place with a book and a box of chocolate covered cherries."

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• David Letterman