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The Spanish parishioner who made international headlines for her infamous restoration attempt on a cherished religious painting has passed away at the age 94.

Cecilia Giménez, from the town of Borja in northern Spain, rose to prominence 13 years ago after she attempted to repaint a 100-year-old painting titled Ecce Homo located in her local church.

Giménez's restoration effort spread across the internet and earned the moniker "Potato Jesus", largely due to the resulting depiction of Christ's head looking somewhat like a furry primate.

Local Announcement and Homage

The nonagenarian's death was confirmed by Borja's mayor, Eduardo Arilla, via an online statement, where he described her as a "great enthusiast of painting from a very early age".

"Descansa en paz Cecilia, we will always remember you," the mayor posted.

Arilla also paid tribute to Giménez's "famous restoration of Ecce Homo" in the summer of 2012, which "because of the deteriorated condition it presented, Cecilia, with the best intentions, chose to repaint the work over".

The Artwork's Background and the Now-Infamous Intervention

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

At the time, Giménez, who was 81 years old, explained that parishioners had "traditionally fixed everything here", and that she had been given the go-ahead from the parish priest to proceed.

She also noted that anybody who entered the Church would have observed she was applying paint to the existing artwork.

A Surprising Economic Lifeline

The impact of the restoration spawned the "Ecce Mono" internet phenomenon and saw the once quiet town of Borja quickly become a major tourist destination.

The town, which had previously welcomed just 5,000 tourists per year, attracted more than 40,000 tourists by 2013, and generated over €50,000 for charity from the attention.

Currently, officials estimate that between 15,000 and 20,000 tourists visit Borja every year to view the famous portrait, which is now displayed behind a pane of glass.

Legacy and Community Admiration

Following the initial backlash, backed by local residents and others globally, Giménez went on to hold an art exhibition showcasing 28 of her personal paintings.

She was commended by the mayor for her generosity and decades of dedication to the church.

Ultimately, what began as a sincere but flawed art repair created an improbable cultural icon and provided unprecedented attention and resources to a small Spanish town.