When Adrienne Shelly was murdered in 2006 by a construction worker - who tried to make it seem as if she had committed suicide - her husband Andy Ostroy was devastated.
Now, 10 years later, themarketing company owner tells People it was a 'harrowing' experience.
But it has helped that the film she wrote and directed, 2007's Waitress, is now receiving acclaim all over again as it has been turned into a hit musical. And on Tuesday it was nominated for four Tony Awards. 'Adrienne would have been so proud,' said Ostroy.
A decade of pain: Adrienne Shelly, seen here in 1989, was murdered in 2006 at the age of 40 by a construction worker who tried to make it seem as if she had committed suicide
Her project: At the time of her murder, the star was finishing up her film Waitress, which she wrote and directed. It starred Keri Russell and Cheryl Hines
When Waitress, which starred Keri Russell and Cheryl Hines, premiered at the Sundance Film Festival, 'It was the big talk that year,' added Ostroy.
The musical version opened on April 24.
Ostroy and his daughter Sophie, now 12, have seen the show, they told People.
Her legacy: The film came out in 2007 and in April was turned into a musical which has since received four Tony nominations
'It's a wonderful addition to Adrienne's legacy. It's one of the many things she has to remember about her mother as she is growing up,' he said.
Shelly's husband said that while she was uncertain about becoming a mother, she fell in love with Sophie right away.
'Once she saw Sophie, it was incredible,' he said.
The husband: Andrew Ostroy with Hines and Russell at the 2007 NYC premiere of Waitress
'The love she had for that child was just monumental. Her fears vanished. She just adored that little girl so much.
'She was joyful about being able to achieve her dreams and still be a mother who was still madly in love with her child. She finally had it all.'
The murder took place on November 1, 2006, when Shelly, 40, confronted Diego Pillco, 19 at the time, about taking money out of her purse.
He was a construction worker who killed her in the apartment where she worked. Diego made it seem like she took her own life by hanging. He was sentenced to 25 years without parole in 2008.
A red carpet vet: The beauty is seen here in 2001 at theGreen Fingers screening at Sony lincoln Square Theater in New York City
'It was the worst thing that could ever happen,' her husband said,
After grieving, he went on to create The Adrienne Shelly Foundation to support women filmmakers.
'For a few weeks after she died, I had a lot of people who were asking where they could donate money in her honor,' he said.
Her little one: Adrienne left behind daughter Sophie, now 12; here she is seen in 2009at the Adrienne Shelly Memorial Garden dedication ceremony at Abingdon Square Park in NYC
'It was too soon. I didn’t know. Those first few weeks were harrowing and I wanted to think about it.
'When my head was able to get clearer, I thought, "What would Adrienne want? Who would Adrienne want to help?" Other struggling women filmmakers.'
Now Paul Rudd, Hines, Michelle Williams and Russell are on board. The foundation has also awarded 60 production grants since its inception. Cynthia Wade who won an Academy Award for her documentary Freeheld, which ASF helped fund.
