'Cake Boss' star Buddy Valastro's mother dead at 69

"Cake Boss" star Buddy Valastro's mother has died. Mary Valastro was 69-years-old.

The famous baker announced on Instagram on Thursday that his mother's "battle with ALS has ended." He wrote that she is no longer suffering and he hopes that "she's dancing to 'I Will Survive' with my dad."

"It’s with an extremely heavy heart that I must share the news of my mother’s passing. She left for heaven this morning, surrounded by the family," he wrote asking for privacy.

Amyotrophic lateral sclerosis, also known as ALS and Lou Gehrig's Disease, is a neurological disorder that affects the nerves controlling voluntary muscle movement.

Mary Valastro was born in Italy in 1948 and emigrated to the U.S. with her family when she was 6, settling in Hoboken. She married Bartolo Valastro in 1965, shortly after buying Carlo's Bakery the Hoboken. They had five children.

Buddy Valastro took over the bakery in 1994. It will be closed Tuesday.

The Associated Press contributed to this report.