Hotel declined connection of widow's call to room where MasterChef celebrity spouse tragically passed away, as detailed by Lauren Zonfrillo.
Rewritten Article:
In a heart-wrenching account, Lauren Zonfrillo, widow of MasterChef Australia star Jock Zonfrillo, revealed her desperation to reach her husband when he didn't answer her calls, only to be mistaken for an eager fan at the hotel where he was staying.
Losing her husband in such tragic circumstances, Lauren found herself thousands of miles away in Italy, worried when Jock's typical daily phone calls failed to come through. In an attempt to get through to him, Lauren begged the hotel staff to connect her to his room, but they saw her as a zealous admirer and refused.
"I called the hotel. They thought I was some crazed Jock Zonfrillo groupie, so they wouldn't put me through to his room," Lauren recounted.
Persistently insisting on her identity and the reservation she made, Lauren recalls arguing with the hotel staff. "I am his wife. I made the reservation. I've got the paperwork. It's on my credit card. I've got passports, I've got marriage certificates," she said, but the staff stubbornly refused to help.
Desperate for answers, Lauren eventually had to call the police to conduct a welfare check on Jock. Shockingly, the hotel staff also refused to connect the police to Jock's room over the phone, which led to the authorities visiting the hotel. Tragically, the police returned Lauren's call with the devastating news that Jock was found dead in his room.
Zooming into the present, Lauren shared her final moments with Jock as she said goodbye to his lifeless body. "I was scared, but it was just what I needed. It was a very strange feeling," she told Australia's The Imperfects podcast while tears trickled down her face. She described Jock in his pyjamas, smelling his aftershave and noticing every detail of her husband that she would never forget.
Lauren still longs for her husband's voice, wishing he would explain what happened to him. Though many speculate about the cause of Jock's death due to his ongoing drug abuse and mental health struggles, Lauren has opted to protect her husband's memory.
"A lot of people want to know the answer to that, I'm very aware of that. I've had many strangers approaching me, asking how Jock died, and it's quite unsettling," she said.
When it comes to disclosing the details of Jock's death, Lauren wants to respect her husband's wishes, as he was always open about what he was comfortable discussing. "I have an answer, but it doesn't change anything for my grieving process."
The grieving widow plans to share more about her life with Jock and their family journey following his death in her upcoming book Till Death Do Us Part.
Miscellaneous Info
- Jock Zonfrillo was found dead in his hotel room in Melbourne on May 1, 2023, while in Australia for promotional duties related to MasterChef. The specific cause of his death remains private.
- Lauren Zonfrillo, his widow, has chosen to maintain privacy regarding the details of his passing and focuses on sharing aspects of their personal life and her journey through grief.
- There has been public speculation about the cause of Zonfrillo's death due to his well-documented history of drug abuse and mental health struggles. He left behind his wife and their two young children, as well as daughters from previous marriages. It is unknown if Lauren will reveal her insights into what happened the night her husband died in her upcoming book.
- Jock was a successful Australian chef, known for opening his restaurants Orana and Bistro Blackwood in Adelaide and participating in the MasterChef Australia judging panel. He was battling a heroin addiction in his teenage years and had a mentor who greatly impacted his life and career. His book Last Shot discusses his struggles with addiction.
- Despite Lauren Zonfrillo's pleas, the hotel staff initially mistook her for a fan, refusing to connect her to her deceased husband, Jock Zonfrillo's, room.
- In an effort to reach Jock, Lauren had to contact the police for a welfare check at the hotel, where he was staying in Melbourne for sports events related to MasterChef Australia.
- The entertainment industry is abuzz with speculation about the cause of Jock's death, given his history of drug abuse and mental health struggles; however, his widow, Lauren, remains silent on the matter, choosing instead to focus on her personal journey and the memories they shared.
- The upcoming book by Lauren Zonfrillo, Till Death Do Us Part, is expected to offer insights into the life and family journey she shared with her late husband, Jock Zonfrillo.
- The news of Jock Zonfrillo's passing, which happened on May 1, 2023, in Victoria, has been a shocking event for fans of sports, health, celebrities, and entertainment.
