One thing Mildred Cutter taught her daughter from an early age was how to be compassionate.

Cutter began showing signs of biopolar disorder when her daughter was 8 or 9 years old and her struggle with the manic and depressive episodes left a lasting impact on her daughter, Gov. Linda Lingle.

Lingle has been a strong advocate for and supporter of those suffering from mental ailments, testifying on issues related to mental illness from her first year as governor.

Lingle lived with relatives during her teen years, but she and her mother remained close until Cutter's death yesterday morning in Los Angeles. Cutter was 78.

Lingle is in California and Lt. Gov. James "Duke" Aiona will act as governor until her return, which was unscheduled as of yesterday.

"(The governor) was very, very close with her family," said her friend Kitty Lagareta, CEO of Communications Pacific. "My sense is whenever she got a chance to visit her mom, she did."

In a 2002 profile, Lingle recalled her mother being taken to the hospital in restraints and showing up at her school during one manic episode.

"I think it's given me a compassion for people, an empathy for families who deal with all kinds of issues. As a young child, to try to understand and deal with something like that, I think just has an impact on you that doesn't go away," Lingle said.

News of Cutter's passing brought messages of condolence from the state and U.S. capitols.

The state House and Senate held moments of silence yesterday in honor of the governor's mother.

The governor's office said private services will be held on the Mainland and that the governor requests no flowers be sent.