Lidia Bastianich used social media to share the news about the passing of Ermina Bastianich. On Feb 19, 2021, she tweeted, "My dear mother, Erminia, affectionately known as 'Grandma' passed away quietly at home with me and the immediate family several days ago. Our team will be dedicating many of my future posts to her as we get through this difficult time."

Showbiz CheatSheet called Ermina a "scene-stealer," noting that the sweet grandma encouraged and influenced her famous daughter. Ermina appeared alongside Lidia on television and was also featured on her daughter's official YouTube channel.

In fact, in a clip from February 2015, she talked about the beautiful similarities between people and plants, saying we are more or less the same. "We all come from the ground," she said with a smile, "and we go back to the ground."