After Whitney Houston’s death in 2012, her mother Cissy Houston wondered if there was anything she could have done differently to save her life.

When speaking with People In 2013, Cissy reflected on the star’s tragic death in her revealing memoir, Remembering Whitney.

Cissy, who died on October 7 at the age of 91, said at the time: “I think I was a great mother and I still wonder if I could have saved her somehow. I think why not. Why.” Wouldn’t that surprise me? I still want her to be here.”

Furthermore, she added, “Yes, I wish I could have saved her. I am sorry that she had to die alone and in such a condition or predicament. It really made me really sad and hurt.”

Furthermore, the Houston mother concluded, “Who knows what the course is about and where you will go in life.” Life is really crazy and fun. You go one way, sometimes that’s good. One more thing, sometimes this is bad. You don’t know. You don’t know until it’s too late. Because you know, if I could have saved my daughter in any way, I would have. I could have helped her in any way possible.

During her memoir, Cissy wrote openly about Whitney’s addiction and the downward spiral that led to her death by drowning in a hotel bathtub while traces of cocaine were still in her system.

At the time, the American singer said it was “very difficult” to watch her daughter struggle, claiming: “Nobody is born to a woman who says, ‘I want my daughter to be a drug addict.’ I did everything I thought was right. Some children listen, others don’t, and they come across something they can’t handle. Sometimes they don’t talk to their parents about it.

It’s worth noting that Cissy died at her home in New Jersey while receiving hospice care for Alzheimer’s disease, her daughter-in-law Pat Houston confirmed.