After years of stops and starts, the story of Laurina Ecobelli is finally coming to the big screen on Monday in Albany. Called “Laurina,” the short film is part of a longtime effort by Ecobelli’s grandchildren, Tom, an actor and screenwriter, and his sister Lora Lee, a writer and actress, to bring her heartbreaking and inspiring story to film.

Longtime Capital Region residents may remember Laurina from the former Ballston Spa restaurant, Ecobelli’s Tam O’Shanter Inn, which she ran with her family. She was well-known in town as someone who’d help just about anybody who needed it. However, despite her caring nature, she had a challenging childhood. Born in 1906 in New Jersey as Laurita Inzine, she was a young child when her father died and her mother was left destitute.