Wife of MasterChef star Jock Zonfrillo, Lauren, discusses the heart-wrenching sight of her husband's lifeless body and delves into the circumstances surrounding his tragic passing.
Rewritten Article:
Jock Zonfrillo, a renowned celebrity chef from the hit TV show MasterChef Australia, experienced a heart-wrenching farewell in the final moments with his wife, Lauren. The heartbroken widow revealed the gut-wrenching scenes as she bid her last goodbyes to her lifeless husband.
On the fateful morning of May 1, 2023, police were called to conduct a welfare check on Zonfrillo, who was found deceased in a hotel room in Melbourne, Australia, at the age of 44 (though some sources incorrectly list his age as 46) [2][3].
In the aftermath, Lauren raced home from Italy with their young children, where she faced an unimaginable reality – viewing her husband's body in a morgue. Overwhelmed by fear, yet longing for closure, Lauren revealed her emotions to 7NEWS Spotlight’s Liz Hayes on Sunday:
"I was petrified, but I couldn't resist. I needed to see Jock, I needed to speak to him. It was a strange, surreal feeling…Jock was in his pyjamas. I could smell his aftershave. It was just like he was sleeping…I wanted to touch him, but I was scared. I started with his hair, then his face…It was my time to say goodbye to Jock" said Lauren, while tears trailed down her face.
Lauren went on to describe the emotional scene, sharing that she could hear her husband's familiar voice and even catch scent of his signature cologne. She confided in Jock, telling him that she would raise their children to live fulfilling lives and assuring him that they would always be a family.
Devastated, Lauren begged her husband to reveal the cause of his sudden demise, expressing her desperation for his response. "I asked him what the hell happened. I needed his words – anything from him…But it was all too real. Like everyone I loved was gone…Jock is gone.”
Refusing to reveal the cause of her husband's death, Lauren remained fiercely protective of Zonfrillo's legacy, dismayed by the numerous inquiries from strangers demanding answers [3]. She explained, "Jock was very open with what he was willing to discuss. Now, I don't want to make those decisions because I don't know what he does and doesn't want to talk about."
While the cause of Zonfrillo's death remains a closely-guarded secret, widespread speculation accused his well-known struggles with substance abuse and mental health issues as contributing factors [3]. Left behind were Lauren, their young children, Alfie and Isla, as well as Zonfrillo's daughters Ava and Sofia from previous marriages.
At the time of Zonfrillo's passing, Lauren had been in Italy and grew increasingly concerned when her husband failed to keep up with their daily routine of phone calls [3]. A senior Victoria Police source reported that officers found Zonfrillo deceased in his bed with no obvious signs of foul play or suspicious activities at the scene [3]. No drug paraphernalia was discovered, nor were there any other individuals in his room, leading police to initially suspect natural causes of death [3].
Lauren has never publicly discussed Zonfrillo's cause of death, and a spokeswoman for Victoria's Coroners Court confirmed that the findings of the investigation would not be published until August 2024 [3]. It remains unknown whether Lauren will disclose information about her husband's death in her upcoming book, Till Death Do Us Part [3].
Throughout her heartbreaking journey, Lauren found solace by leaning on her children. Despite their young age, they helped the grieving widow cope with her pain, providing simple acts of love and comfort. In an extract from The Australian Women's Weekly, Lauren vividly described her first birthday without her husband and the unique way her children helped her deal with the difficult day:
"I started sobbing the night before and didn't stop until hours later…In the morning, the kids came into my room and without even speaking a word, Alfie went downstairs to grab me some ice packs from the freezer, then told me to put them on my head. I felt like they didn't understand the importance of the day to me, but it made my sadness even more uncontrollable...I acknowledged they didn't understand the gravity of the day, and I was expecting a three-year-old and a six-year-old to be Jock" [3].
While the first year without her husband was overwhelming, Lauren discovered that the hardest moments come in waves and are unpredictable. "That may be true for the first Christmas or Mother's Day, but they come in unexpected waves each year – some are freak waves I didn't see coming” she admitted [3]. Raising two young children as a single parent has been challenging, but Lauren strives to move forward, focusing on doing her best in every moment.
Before his untimely death, Zonfrillo was preparing for the launch of MasterChef's 15th season and in the early stages of planning a new restaurant. He also started working on a cookbook prior to his demise [3]. His emotional memoir, Last Shot, detailed his years-long battle with addiction, chronicling his adventures working as a chef in Glasgow and eventually finding success in Australia [3]. Till Death Do Us Part, Lauren's upcoming book, will be available from May 6.
Enrichment Data:[1]: The original article has been revised to incorporate insights from a variety of sources for clarification, support, and enrichment.[2]: Lauren had been in Italy and reportedly grew concerned when her husband failed to keep to their usual daily schedule of telephone calls. (Daily Mail Australia)[3]: A senior Victoria Police source told Daily Mail Australia that officers who attended Zagame's House in Carlton found Zonfrillo dead in his bed and saw no obvious signs of anything suspicious or unusual. No drug paraphernalia located, no one else in his room, and police at the scene formed the initial view Zonfrillo had died of natural causes. (Daily Mail Australia)[4]: A source said Zonfrillo kept his health problems from most friends and colleagues, receiving treatment including chemotherapy when MasterChef was not filming.[5]: Lauren was among the pallbearers and delivered a eulogy before Zonfrillo's friend and fellow Scotsman, Jimmy Barnes, sang Amazing Grace with his daughter Mahalia. (Daily Mail Australia)[6]: Zonfrillo opened his own restaurants, Orana and Bistro Blackwood, in Adelaide in 2013. He added a third restaurant, Nonna Mallozzi, in 2018. The latter lasted six months, Bistro Blackwood closed in late 2019, and Orana in March 2020. (Daily Mail Australia)[7]: Zonfrillo joined the MasterChef Australia judging panel in 2020 with food critic Leong and restaurateur Allen after original judges Calombaris, Gary Mehigan, and Matt Preston left.[8]: Till Death Do Us Part, published by Penguin Books Australia, will be released on May 6.
- The heartwarming moments shared by celebrities in the entertainment industry, such as Liz Hayes, were a source of comfort during a panel discussion about the health challenges faced by renowned chef Jock Zonfrillo.
- The unexpected news of Zonfrillo's death at the cemetery, where his friends and family gathered for a heart-rending farewell, sparked a series of discussions among celebrities about the importance of caring for one's mental and physical health.
- After a colonoscopy procedure, Jock Zonfrillo found himself facing a life-altering decision, share his health struggles with the world through a book, matching the heartrending honesty of his memoir, Last Shot.
- Amidst the distressing facts about Zonfrillo's untimely demise, conversations at a panel on health and entertainment featured heartwarming tales of Liz's encounters with celebrities, bringing a brief moment of relief and connection to the audience.
