The last hours of Married at First Sight’s Dr Trisha Stratford: How loved ones spent her final moments with her – as they prepare to celebrate the life of their ‘wonder woman’
The popular doctor from Married at First Sight died peacefully at home, surrounded by family, and will be buried on Friday.
Trisha’s ‘heartbroken’ former MAFS co-star John Aiken announced her death on Monday.
The life of the The New Zealand-based clinical neuropsychotherapist, 72, will be celebrated when she says her farewell at a funeral in Auckland on Friday.
Her family described the television personality in an obituary before her funeral as a “matriarch” and “wonder woman” to her three daughters, Gina, Lily and Mare O’Neil, and true love to partner Roger Lampen.
She was also a beloved grandmother and aunt.
HHer daughter Gina O’Neill told Daily Mail Australia the family would release information about her death in due course.
“We ask that you respect our family as they grieve privately for the time being,” she said
John Aiken (right, with Trisha) announced the news on Instagram, writing: “I am heartbroken and devastated that my friend and dear colleague Trisha has passed away.”
The funeral announcement in the New Zealand Herald asked for donations to Mercy Hospice in Auckland in lieu of flowers.
The Mercy specializes in providing a specialist community palliative care
Dr. Stratford shot to fame when she took part in the first season of the reality matchmaking show alongside relationship expert John Aitken in 2015.
“I am heartbroken and devastated that my friend and dear colleague Trisha has passed away,” he announced on Instagram upon her passing.
“We shared seven amazing seasons of MAFS together. She loved everything about New Zealand, relationships, the All Blacks, the Black Caps, French wine and traveling around the world. I will miss you Tish. “Thanks for all the memories.”
On Tuesday, he appeared on the Today show to share his fondest memories of working with the neuropsychotherapist, telling co-hosts Karl Stefanovic and Sarah Abo that Trisha was an “amazing woman” and a “voice of reason” on set.
“Nothing could really upset her. She was always the smartest person in the room when I was with her. The MAFS contestants threw things at her (and) she was fine,” said a visibly emotional John.
During her time on the show, Trisha was known for her ‘pheromone test’ and for asking contestants if they had been ‘intimate’ with each other
John Aiken was dejected when he appeared on the Today show and opened up about his friendship with Trisha
“Towards the end I couldn’t compromise my professional and personal standards because there were contestants on the show who I felt shouldn’t have been there,” she told Woman’s Day New Zealand
“You flirted with her on set, you know, and she just shrugged it off,” he joked.
When asked about the cause of death, John said he wanted to respect the wishes of Trisha and her family by keeping this information private.
“Although she was on the number one show in Australasia and also toured the world, she was also quite a private person and had a lot of integrity,” he said.
John confirmed he will be at Trisha’s funeral on Friday to represent Nine and MAFS’ production company Endemol Shine.
Trisha’s impressive achievements, including being a single mother of three girls while having an impressive career.
Trisha was New Zealand’s first ever sports journalist and later became a war correspondent before retraining as a clinical neuropsychotherapist.
Channel 9 said in a statement: ‘We are deeply saddened to hear of the passing of Dr Trisha Stratford.
“Our sincere condolences and heartfelt condolences go out to her family and those closest to her at this difficult time.”
During her time on the show, Trisha was known for her ‘pheromone test’ and for asking contestants if they had been ‘intimate’ with each other.
She was part of the line-up for seven seasons and announced in 2020 that she would be stepping back ahead of the eighth season.
“After seven seasons of Married At First Sight, I have decided to step back from television to focus on my writing, research and neuropsychotherapy,” Trisha said in a statement at the time.
In early 2021, Trisha also came forward to deliver a scathing attack on the controversial reality series, claiming it made her feel “sick.”
“Towards the end I couldn’t compromise my professional and personal standards because there were contestants on the show that I felt shouldn’t have been there,” she told Woman’s Day New Zealand.