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The elderly woman from Spain who made international headlines for her poorly executed restoration attempt on a cherished Jesus Christ fresco has passed away at the age 94.

The woman, a resident of the town of Borja in northern Spain, rose to prominence thirteen years ago after she attempted to repaint a century-old painting known as Ecce Homo located in her local church.

Giménez's handiwork quickly went viral and earned the moniker "Potato Jesus", because the resulting likeness of Christ's head bearing a resemblance to a furry primate.

Official Confirmation and Homage

The nonagenarian's passing was confirmed by the town's mayor, Eduardo Arilla, in a social media post, where he acknowledged her as a "great enthusiast of painting from a very early age".

"Rest in peace Cecilia, we will always remember you," Arilla wrote.

Arilla also paid tribute to Giménez's "famous restoration of Ecce Homo" in August 2012, which "due to the deteriorated condition it presented, Cecilia, acting in good faith, chose to repaint the work over".

The Painting's History and the Fateful Intervention

The Ecce Homo ("This is the Man" in Latin) painted by 19th century artist Elias Garcia Martinez had resided for over a century in the Sanctuary of Mercy Church near Zaragoza.

At the time, Giménez, who was 81 years old, stated that parishioners had "always repaired everything here", and that she had received permission from the local priest to do the work.

She also noted that anyone who came into the Church would have observed she was applying paint to the existing image.

A Surprising Economic Lifeline

The aftermath of the repaint job spawned the "Monkey Christ" internet phenomenon and saw the previously sleepy town of Borja rapidly turn into a major tourist destination.

The town, which had in the past welcomed just five thousand tourists per year, attracted over 40,000 tourists by 2013, and generated over €50,000 for charity from the interest.

Currently, local authorities estimate that somewhere around 15,000 and 20,000 tourists visit Borja every year to view the famous portrait, which is now displayed behind a protective shield of glass.

Legacy and Local Admiration

Following the wave of criticism, backed by local residents and well-wishers around the world, Giménez later stage an exhibition of her paintings featuring 28 of her own paintings.

She was praised by Borja's mayor for her generosity and decades of faithful service to the church.

In the end, what began as a sincere but flawed act of restoration created an improbable cultural icon and provided unprecedented attention and resources to a humble Spanish town.