Lauren Zonfrillo shares bittersweet tribute to mark late husband Jock Zonfrillo’s 50th birthday

This week, MasterChef Australia judge Jock Zonfrillo should have turned 50.

Marking her late husband’s birthday, Lauren Zonfrillo honoured him with a heartfelt tribute recounting how their family had marked the date.

“On what would have been your 50th. Happy birthday, my love,” Lauren said.

“Our little family are eating lunch in the exact restaurant you would have chosen. Tears, plenty of laughter and so many stories of Papa.

“Life will never be as it should have been, but we’re forging a new one, and it too is wonderful. Loz x”

MasterChef alumni including Laura Sharrad, Julie Goodwin and Tessa Boersma were among the hundreds to send their love following Lauren’s post.

Zonfrillo’s former on-screen colleague and friend Andy Allen said: “Sending so much love to you and the kids.”

Read more

The secret double heartache Kyle Sandilands was facing amid Jackie O fallout

Celebrity chef Jamie Oliver also reached out, writing: “Much love to you and family xx.”

Zonfrillo’s death in May 2023, aged 46, shocked the nation.

In her book, Till Death Do Us Part, Lauren recalled grappling with her grief under the watchful eye of the Australian public.

“All of our privacy was taken away,” she recalled of the time.

“I felt frightened even leaving the house with the kids. My phone was going non-stop.”

She described grief as a “narrow corridor” that got longer and longer, but she has still continued to honour her late husband online.

In May, she marked three years since his death with a simple image of them embracing.

“Three years. Still no closer to accepting you’re not here with us,” she said.

Zonfrillo left behind two older daughters from previous relationships, Ava and Sophia, as well as two younger children, Alfie and Isla, whom he shared with his widow, Lauren.