History Main / KindlyHousekeeper

* Mrs. McGregor from ''Literature/The Boxcar Children'': She works for Henry, Jessie, Violet and Benny's paternal grandfather, James Alden, as a housekeeper/cook, but they see her more as a member of the family than a servant.

Such ladies can be a ParentalSubstitute to the children--if there are any--to substitute for the DisappearedDad or the MissingMom (usually the latter since housekeepers are [[AlwaysFemale almost always women). She will also often play TeamMom to the other servants. Can be a SupremeChef considering that [[ThinkNothingOfIt it's all part of the job]], or an ApronMatron. In the latter case she may also be a ServileSnarker to verbally whip others.

Such ladies can be a ParentalSubstitute to the children---if there are any--to substitute for the DisappearedDad or the MissingMom (usually the latter). She will also often play TeamMom to the other servants. Can be a SupremeChef considering that [[ThinkNothingOfIt it's all part of the job]], or an ApronMatron. In the latter case she may also be a ServileSnarker to verbally whip others.

* Hannah Gruen in the ''NancyDrew'' books. It's always said in every book that Nancy's real mother died when she was only three years old, and Hannah had been working for the family ever since, and acts a maternal figure to Nancy.

You know this [[AlwaysFemale lady]]. She's portly or HollywoodPudgy, [[PerpetualSmiler perpetually smiling]] and always ready to do what you need her to do -- she is always there should you need someone to take out the trash, [[TextileWorkIsFeminine do the laundry]], or be a shoulder to cry on. She'll always have [[FeminineWomenCanCook a nice breakfast]] for you ready in the morning, and will take your coat for you once you come back home. She's the Kindly Housekeeper.

Such ladies can be a ParentalSubstitute to the children -- if there any -- to substitute for the DisappearedDad or the MissingMom. She will also often play TeamMom to the other servants. Can be a SupremeChef considering that [[ThinkNothingOfIt it's all part of the job]], or an ApronMatron. In the latter case she may also be a ServileSnarker to verbally whip others.

* Hannah Gruen in the ''NancyDrew'' books.

You know this [[AlwaysFemale lady]]. She's portly (or maybe just HollywoodPudgy), [[PerpetualSmiler perpetually smiling]] (or she could be a ServileSnarker, it varies), and always ready to do what you need her to do -- she is always there should you need someone to take out the trash, [[TextileWorkIsFeminine do the laundry]], or be a shoulder to cry on. She'll always have [[FeminineWomenCanCook a nice breakfast]] for you ready in the morning, and will take your coat for you once you come back home. She's the Kindly Housekeeper.

Such ladies can be a ParentalSubstitute to the children -- if there any -- to substitute for the DisappearedDad or the MissingMom. She will also often play TeamMom to the other servants. Can be a SupremeChef considering that [[ThinkNothingOfIt it's all part of the job]], or an ApronMatron.

Probably not an OldRetainer, since she usually does not have a high regard for doing things the Proper Way.

* Calpurnia from ''ToKillAMockingbird''.

* "Brownie" (Mrs. Brown, first name unknown) from Mary Grant Bruce's series of books (the "Billabong Books") about the fictional Australian cattle station (ranch, in Americanese) named Billabong. After David Linton's wife died, Mrs. Brown, their cook/housekeeper took on the role of surrogate mother to his two very young children with the approval of her employer. She is depicted as kindly but firm, able to induce obedience through sheer love.

* Mrs. Beakly from ''DuckTales''.

** The [[{{Sherlock}} BBC adaptation]] puts her in the same position, with John and Sherlock both very protective of their landlady ([[CatchPhrase not their housekeeper). For the offence of laying hands on Mrs Hudson, Sherlock throws a CIA agent out of a window, and at the end of series 2 [[spoiler:Moriarty correctly identifies her as one of the three true friends in his life]].

* ''StarTrekDeepSpaceNine'' has Mila, Tain's gentle and kind housekeeper of thirty years.

* Subverted in SusanCooper's ''Literature/TheDarkIsRising series'' book ''Literature/OverSeaUnderStone'' (1965). Mrs. Palk appears to be one of these, but turns out to be TheMole, an agent of the Dark who sabotages the protagonists.

* Subverted in SusanCooper's ''TheDarkIsRising series'' book ''Over Sea, Under Stone'' (1965). Mrs. Palk appears to be one of these, but turns out to be TheMole, an agent of the Dark who sabotages the protagonists.

You know this [[AlwaysFemale lady]]. She's portly (or maybe just HollywoodPudgy), [[PerpetualSmiler perpetually smiling]] (or she could be a ServileSnarker, it varies), and always ready to do what you need her to do -- she is always there should you need someone to take out the trash, do the laundry, or be a shoulder to cry on. She'll always have a nice breakfast for you ready in the morning, and will take your coat for you once you come back home. She's the Kindly Housekeeper.

* Peggotty from ''DavidCopperfield''.

* Mrs. Potts in ''[[Disney/BeautyAndTheBeast Beauty and the Beast]]''.
* CompositeCharacter Nanny (a stand-in for the novel ''TheHundredAndOneDalmatians''' Nanny Cook and Nanny Butler) in Disney's ''Disney/OneHundredAndOneDalmatians''.
* The recent movie adaptation of ''JaneEyre'' portrays Mrs. Fairfax this way.

* Subverted in SusanCooper's TheDarkIsRising series book ''Over Sea, Under Stone'' (1965). Mrs. Palk appears to be one of these, but turns out to be TheMole, an agent of the Dark who sabotages the protagonists.
* Nanny Cook and Nanny Butler in ''TheHundredAndOneDalmatians''.

* ''MaryPoppins'' had one.

Contrast CreepyHousekeeper.

Such ladies can be a ParentalSubstitute to the children -- if there any -- to substitute for the DisappearedDad or the MissingMom. She will also often play TeamMom to the other servants. Can be a SupremeChef considering that [[ThinkNothingOfIt it's all part of the job]], or an ApronMatron. Contrast CreepyHousekeeper.

* Ida Jungmann in Thomas Mann's ''{{Buddenbrooks}}''.

* In the ''Series/DoctorWho'' serial "Ghostlight" the kindly housekeeper leaves at sunset, and once she and the day staff have left the CreepyHousekeeper appears. Guess when the TARDIS arrives.

* Jack from AlexRider. Although she's younger than most of the examples, she still serves as a Parental Substitute for Alex.