Whoopi Goldberg Grieving Late Mother: ‘It’s Really Hard To Believe She’s Gone’

Whoopi Goldberg’s mother, Emma Johnson, passed away on August 28 due to complications arising from a stroke and “The View” co-host is coping with her loss.

“I’m still in the processing phase,” Whoopi told People at AARP’s national event, Orlando@50+. “It’s really hard to believe that she’s gone.”

The tight-knit mom and daughter spoke daily – something that has provided comfort to Whoopi as the comedian told the mag she “didn’t leave anything unsaid.”

“Every day she’d say, ‘I’m proud of you,’ ” Whoopi told the mag. “And I would respond, ‘I’m proud of you.’ I was very lucky to have her as a mother.”

Whoopi said she takes comfort in the life her mother lived.

“I know she had a great life, so I can’t be too sad,” she continued. “She had a great time of it. But of course I’m sad because I really miss her.”

Whoopi cited work as the key to taking her mind off her loss. In addition to moderating “The View,” Whoopi authored a book (to be released next week) entitled “Is it Just Me?” about “the loss of civility in our culture today,” she told the mag. She also recently completed work on two films: Tyler Perry’s “For Colored Girls,” with Janet Jackson, and “A Little Bit of Heaven” alongside Kate Hudson.

“It’s good to have things to do, to be working,” Whoopi told the mag. “Working makes me happy.”