Who is Inday Barretto? Remembering Gretchen, Marjorie, and Claudine's mother

The Barretto family is mourning the loss of their matriarch, Inday Barretto, whose death was announced on Thursday.

Born Estrella Barretto, Inday shaped one of showbiz’s most famous clans with her guidance. She is the mom of Gretchen, Marjorie, and Claudine — three of the seven children she had with husband Miguel Barretto, who passed away in 2019. Their son Mito died in September 2025.

Inday lived a life guided by faith and wisdom.

Even amid the long-running tensions in the family, she remained firm in her role as a mother who tried to keep the peace and remind her children of what mattered most.

In what would be her last interview — with Ogie Diaz in October 2025 — she recalled that even during the wake of her late husband, disagreements among her children made headlines, but she said she chose not to dwell on it.

Instead of being saddened by the public friction, Inday remarked, “Ay hindi ako nalungkot,” explaining that her children’s behavior was simply a reflection of “what you see is what you get.”

The event was chaotic with her daughters publicly fighting, but Inday eventually asserted she would not be bullied and reminded them that it was her husband’s wake.

“Basta ako dasal ko lang, diniretso ko lang ang Diyos, I don't want my children to be together. Just that they do not be against each other kasi dugo is dugo,” she said.

Inday lived a life guided by faith and wisdom.

She spoke about the importance of raising her children with love, forgiveness, and strong values, emphasizing that a kind and loving heart was more important than harboring anger or resentment.

“Gusto ko sila dalhin to all kneel down on their knees in prayer. They will have to make mana the forgiving heart that I have and the loving heart that I have,” she said.

She remembered an instance when she told Claudine to never let hatred enter the hearts of her children.

“I told Claudine, ‘You never put hatred in the heart of your children.’ Kasi pagka mabahiran na ng hatred ‘yan, mawala ang love. Kung walang love sa puso ng mga anak mo, they will never be lovable,” she said.

Inday likened herself to Marjorie, saying she saw a lot of herself in daughter.

“Tingin ko sa kaniya parang pareho kami, made from the same pattern. Strong rin siya," she said, while noting some of her private grievances.

Meanwhile, she spoke of Gretchen as quiet and thoughtful, a daughter who carried herself with a calm strength and knew how to assert herself when necessary.

“Si Gretchen ganun siya pinanganak. She’s really quiet. Mahinhin ‘yun eh. Hindi siya takutin but I admire her kasi kung ayaw mo sa tao, ayaw mo. If you’re toxic and you’re not going to add anything to my days, huwag na. At saka ayaw niyang sigawan, ayaw niyang maingay, so respect her. It so happens she became super rich,” she said.

“Gretchen was good to daddy. She’s thoughtful,” she said.

Inday’s cause of death has not been disclosed, but she had been battling health issues for several years.

In September 2024, Claudine shared on social media that her mother was hospitalized for lupus, and Joaquin’s recent posts revealed she had been in and out of hospitals from late 2025 to early 2026.

Following the announcement of her death, Claudine took to social media to thank all her siblings for taking part in caring for their mom.  

Shortly after, Marjorie's daughters Dani and Claudia posted their tributes for their lola.  — LA, GMA Integrated News