I watched both "Different Strokes" and every evolution of "The Facts of Life". It ran in reruns for many evenings of my childhood, so I have seen many of the episodes multiple times. I watched the movies. I know that the first year Mrs. Garrett was house mother, then cafeteria manager, and then the bakery, and then shop. Mrs. Garrett wasn't my only fictional auntie, but she was one of the earliest.
Charlotte Rae was an actress before either of these shows, but I loved her for this one. My heart goes out to her friends and family.
