The Simpsons Bids Farewell to Marcia Wallace and Mrs. Krabappel

By Alex Heigl

UPDATED 11/04/2013 at 07:00 PM EST • Originally published 11/04/2013 at 01:00 PM EST

Marcia Wallace

Gregg DeGuire/FilmMagic

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One of the hallmarks of The Simpsons has been the show's chalkboard gag: The audience is introduced to Bart Simpson as he scrawls some message repeatedly on a chalkboard during detention.

Through the show's history, the tone of the chalkboard gag has veered from pop culture commentary ("I can't see dead people") to sheer absurdity ("The First Amendment does not cover burping").

But this week's episode was different.

Marcia Wallace, who voiced Edna Krabappel's sardonic elementary-school teacher, passed away on Oct. 25 at the age of 70. The show's producers quickly decided to retire the character, and used Sunday's chalkboard "gag" to make it final.

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There was no snark, no wackiness; just a sad-looking Bart gazing at one line on the chalkboard: "We'll really miss you Mrs. K."

We really will.