I think you need to let it go and also examine some unconscious bias.

mrsconn23

Dear Prudence,

I had a friend who was like a mother figure. I helped her.
She was living alone, her children rarely visited, and she called me constantly. When she became ill, I sat at her bedside when I could. Her family members seemed respectful, but after her death, they started telling others that I was their mother’s maid and that I worked for the family. I am a lawyer by trade with a family of my own, and my husband is a professional as well. I have confronted the individual that has been fostering the rumors and they have neglected to respond. I do not understand the motive of making those negative associations and attempting to rank me lower in the socioeconomic hierarchy with such villainous and dishonest untruth.

—Depraved and Evil

flantastic

mrsconn23 said:

Dear Prudence,

I had a friend who was like a mother figure. I helped her.
She was living alone, her children rarely visited, and she called me constantly. When she became ill, I sat at her bedside when I could. Her family members seemed respectful, but after her death, they started telling others that I was their mother’s maid and that I worked for the family. I am a lawyer by trade with a family of my own, and my husband is a professional as well. I have confronted the individual that has been fostering the rumors and they have neglected to respond. I do not understand the motive of making those negative associations and attempting to rank me lower in the socioeconomic hierarchy with such villainous and dishonest untruth.

—Depraved and Evil

Just correct people if run into someone who has this misinformation. "Oh, I just loved her as a second mother. I actually work as a lawyer, not sure where they got that information!"

Otherwise, chill. Is it petty and stupid of them? Yes. Why would they do it? IDK. But it doesn't actually affect you, and being "lower in the socioeconomic hierarchy" is not a dirty thing.

charlotte989875

Depraved and evil is weirdly excessive. The family members are odd and probably out of line but may have their own reasons for explaining your relationship with their mother. Their grieving. Let it go. 

But spend some time thinking about why being called a maid is so offensive to you that your wrote to Prudie calling it depraved and evil. 

ei34

"I do not understand the motive for making those negative associations"

Maybe they are embarrassed that they weren't more present and to assuage guilt are saying you were staff?  Idk...but do you and the family have lots of mutual friends?  Do you plan on staying in touch?  Guessing no to both and I'd just write them off at this point.

(Minor shade at LW for ranking professions and the classism. Yes I know it exists but no need to feed into it.)

banana468

Calling you a maid is not villainous.  That said, it's not honest and it sounds like either they didn't know who you were (if their mother was not truthful) or they knew and told others a different job description because it's easier to say that you had to be there than you made the choice to prioritize someone who wasn't your mother and gave her more time than her own flesh and blood did.

Is this all that there is to the story?  If that's it then when it comes up laugh it off: "Oh I'm not sure how that story got started.  I'm actually a practicing attorney at the law firm of Dewy Lietoo Much and Howe but your mom was practically family to me and it was important to me to spend time with her while she was ailing."