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The Spanish parishioner who achieved global fame for her poorly executed repair job on a valuable religious painting has passed away at the age of 94.

Cecilia Giménez, from the town of Borja in northern Spain, became a global sensation thirteen years ago after she undertook to restore a 100-year-old fresco titled Ecce Homo located in her local church.

Giménez's handiwork spread across the internet and was dubbed "Monkey Christ", because the resulting depiction of Christ's head bearing a resemblance to a furry primate.

Official Announcement and Homage

The nonagenarian's death was confirmed by Borja's mayor, Eduardo Arilla, in a social media post, where he acknowledged her as a "great enthusiast of painting from a young age".

"Rest in peace Cecilia, we will always remember you," the mayor posted.

Arilla also paid tribute to Giménez's "now-legendary restoration of Ecce Homo" in the summer of 2012, which "due to the deteriorated condition it was in, Cecilia, with the best intentions, decided to repaint the work over".

The Artwork's History and the Fateful Intervention

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

At the time, Giménez, then 81, explained that parishioners had "traditionally fixed everything here", and that she had been given the go-ahead from the parish priest to do the work.

She also noted that anybody who came into the church would have observed she was painting over the existing image.

An Unexpected Tourist Boom

The impact of the restoration led to the creation of the "Monkey Christ" internet phenomenon and transformed the previously sleepy town of Borja quickly become a significant visitor attraction.

The town, which had in the past seen only five thousand tourists per year, attracted more than 40,000 tourists by 2013, and managed to raise over €50,000 for charity from the interest.

Currently, officials say that between 15,000 and 20,000 tourists visit Borja every year to see the famous portrait, which is now protected by a pane of glass.

Legacy and Local Support

After recovering from the wave of criticism, with support from local residents and well-wishers around the world, Giménez went on to hold an art exhibition showcasing twenty-eight of her own works.

She was praised by Borja's mayor for her generosity and years of dedication to the parish.

Ultimately, what began as a sincere but unsuccessful act of restoration forged an improbable cultural icon and brought remarkable attention and resources to a small Spanish town.