The wife of the late Jock Zonfrillo has paid a heartbreaking tribute to the celebrity chef during an intimate memorial service.
The Masterchef judge, who died on April 30 at the age of 46, was buried at a private funeral in Sydney attended by 200 family and friends on Saturday.
Zonfrillo’s widow, Lauren Fried, who shares children Alfie, six, and Isla, two, with her late husband, was among the pallbearers who led the tight-knit group of mourners into the chapel to celebrate his life.
She hugged Zonfrillo’s fellow Masterchef judge Andy Allen before the couple carried his coffin along with four other men.
Zonfrillo’s coffin was covered with the royal banner of Scotland and decorated with white orchids. The royal banner was a nod to the chef’s Scottish heritage. He was born and raised in Glasgow.
Not a dry eye stayed as Lauren delivered a brave and emotional eulogy, describing the late chef as her better half.
“We’re two halves who found each other in life at the exact moment we were ready,” she said.
“We were ready for this great love, to live a life of adventure, to be parents together, to dream up extraordinary things and actually make them come true.”
Zonfrillo’s daughter Ava added, “It goes without saying that in everything you’ve done, family has been at the core.”
“And one of the hardest things to accept is that you won’t be here to see ours grow.”
Family and friends of the late Jock Zonfrillo emotionally left a chapel in Sydney on Saturday morning as they said goodbye to the celebrity chef. Zonfrillo’s widow Lauren Fried (pictured) led a tight-knit mourners out of the chapel while carrying her husband’s coffin
Andy Allen, fellow judge at MasterChef, carries Zonfrillo’s coffin, covered with the Royal Banner of Scotland and adorned with white orchids
George Calombaris and Colin Fassnidge were among the many chefs present at Zonfrillo’s funeral
The family had a farewell message for the mourners.
“For those who crossed his path, became his mate or were lucky enough to be in this family, keep this proud Scotsman in your heart as you sip your next whiskey.”
A Scottish marcher played the bagpipes as the pallbearers left the chapel.
Guests left the venue in silence while Allen looked visibly moved – he burst into tears while carrying Zonfrillo’s coffin.
A black and white photograph of Zonfrillo was also posted earlier in the Sydney Chapel as guests arrived for the morning service.
An Aboriginal smoking ceremony was held outside to showcase Jockfrillo’s passion for Aboriginal culture and food, while the playing of the bagpipes was a nod to his Scottish heritage.
Guests were dressed in black from head to toe as friends, family and big-name stars led the guests in celebration.
Those in attendance included fellow Masterchef judge Melissa Leong – who was visibly touched and was comforted by her friends as she walked in, Allen and his pregnant wife Alex Davey, former Masterchef judge George Calombaris and celebrity chef Shannon Bennett.
Other TV chefs who made their appearance included My Kitchen Rules stars Manu Feidel and Colin Fassnidge, as well as Miguel Maestre and Matt Moran.
Chef Matt Moran appeared distraught while attending Zonfrillo’s memorial service
Several celebrities were present to see the chef farewell, including singer Jimmy Barnes, his wife Jane and daughter Mahalia
Jock Zonfrillo is pictured with his wife Lauren Fried. She delivered an emotional eulogy
Irish-born Fassnidge was distraught after the somber farewell, holding his hand to his face and fighting back tears.
Who attended Jock Zonfrillo’s funeral?
- Masterchef judges are Andy Allen and Melissa Leong
- Former Masterchef judge George Calombaris
- Shannon Bennett
- Matt Moran
- Colin Fassnidge
- Manu Feidel
- Miguel Maestre
- Darren Robertson
- Collette Dinnegan
- Grace Tame and her fiancé Max Heerey
- Jimmy Barnes and his daughter Mahalia
- Dylan Alcott
- Reporter Liz Hayes
Feidel wrapped his arm around Moran as they comforted each other while exiting the emotional service.
Jimmy Barnes had come to the memorial alone but was later joined by daughter Mahalia as they sang “Amazing Grace” together, while former Australian of the Year Grace Tame was present with her fiancé Max Heerey.
Wheelchair tennis champion and 2022 Australian of the Year Dylan Alcott also paid tribute.
Following the memorial service, Fassnidge shared a photo of his hand grabbing a glass of whiskey on the rocks while he and a group of others visited “any pub”.
The grieving celebrity chef sat at a tartan tablecloth – the pattern is often associated with Scotland, where Zonfrillo was born, as Scottish kilts are most commonly tartan.
“Very appropriate to the random pub we stop by for a farewell whiskey,” he wrote alongside the photo.
The service was kept top secret by Fried, who sent out invitations to the funeral in Sydney earlier this week.
They were accompanied by strict instructions to family and celebrity friends not to reveal details about the funeral.
Fried also informed guests that there would be no wake after the funeral, a visitor to the publication told Saturday.
“The family just wants it to happen without his death drawing attention, which is understandably overwhelming,” they said.
The undertaker added, “They’re trying to keep it as personal as possible. It’s important that they’re given the space to do that.”
MasterChef presenter Andy Allen and his wife Alex land in Sydney ten days after the death of their fellow MasterChef judge Jock Zonfrillo
Andy Allen and his pregnant wife Alex Davey arrive in Sydney ahead of the funeral service
Fried, who shares children Alfie, six, and Isla, two, with her late husband, 46, led a tight-knit group of mourners to a small chapel in Sydney on Saturday morning to celebrate his life. Everything pictured
While Zonfrillo and his family lived in Melbourne during his role at MasterChef, Fried chose to host his funeral in Sydney.
She reportedly chose the location as she is originally from Sydney, where her extended family lives, and Zonfrillo first moved there from Glasgow 23 years ago.
Zonfrillo died in his hotel room at Zagame’s House on Lygon Street in Carlton, Melbourne on April 30 and was found by police around 2am on Monday May 1 – the same day that Channel Ten celebrated its fifteenth season of MasterChef Australia.
They were responding to a welfare request from his wife, who was in Italy with their son and daughter at the time.
The media personality was slated for several promotional appearances for Season 15 of MasterChef when he suddenly passed away.
“My Kitchen Rules” stars Manu Feidel (right) and Colin Fassnidge (left) attended the private memorial service. Pictured last week taking a break from filming MKR for a drink in honor of Zonfrillo
After the solemn service, Fassnidge, 48, shared a photo of his hand grabbing a glass of whiskey while he and a group of others visited “any pub”. The celebrity chef sat at a tablecloth with a tartan pattern – the pattern is often associated with Scotland, where Zonfrillo was born
Also in attendance were chefs Shannon Bennett (far left), George Calombaris (middle left) and Matt Moran (far right). Pictured with Gordon Ramsay (centre right) last week
Chron Australia can reveal that when police entered the hotel room to conduct a social check, officers assumed Zonfrillo had died of natural causes and found nothing to suggest otherwise.
According to sources, no drug paraphernalia were found in the hotel room either.
Following the tragic news, Zonfrillo’s Masterchef fellow judges Melissa Leong and Andy Allen withdrew from all media appearances to promote the cooking show’s return.
The season premiere has been moved to Sunday, May 7th.
Zonfrillo is survived by his third wife, Lauren Fried, and his four children: adult daughters Ava and Sophia from his first two marriages, and Alfie, six, and Isla, two, with Fried.