After more than four decades, one of Sesame Street‘s most lovable non-Muppet residents is moving on. Commence tears…

Actress Sonia Manzano, who has played the role of Maria Figueroa-Rodriguez for the past 44 years, recently announced at the American Library Association Annual Conference that she will be retiring from the show. Manzano joined the cast of Sesame Street in 1971 but didn’t become a series regular until three years later. On the show, her character runs the Fix-It Shop with her adoring husband Luis (Emilio Delgado, who has also been a cast member since 1971).