Frankel is the only child of Robert J. Frankel, a horse trainer, and Bernadette Birk, an interior designer.New York Daily News: "'Real Housewives of New York City' star Bethenny Frankel and husband Jason Hoppy separating" By Bill Hutchinson December 23, 2012 Her father was German-Jewish, whereas her mother was a Roman Catholic of Welsh descent.Video Interview on BravoTV: "After Show: All About Baby – Part V: Bethenny talks about her religious background and the most important thing Baby Bryn has taught her" Retrieved July 4, 2012 "My father was Jewish. The story goes – because you know I am not that close to my family, I am not there for the real history lessons – He married my mother and she converted to Judaism for him. She was Catholic but then she was with my stepfather for all those years. I went to Catholic school and I know more about that.", Her father left her mother when Frankel was four years old. When she was five, her mother married horse trainer John Parisella, who is Italian and of the Roman Catholic faith. Frankel describes her childhood as difficult. Frankel says her mother "was always drinking" and often argued violently with her stepfather.
