Ita Buttrose has confirmed the death of her sister-in-law, Elizabeth Buttrose, a well-known figure in Sydney. She passed away peacefully at a care home in Sydney’s eastern suburbs on Friday.
Elizabeth, who was just a week away from her 79th birthday, had battled health problems following multiple strokes over a decade ago.
Her funeral will be held on October 1, the day she would have turned 79.
In a statement to The Daily TelegraphIta Buttrose expressed her grief and said: ‘My sister-in-law has endured a long illness and is now at peace.
‘She was loved by everyone and we have wonderful memories of when we were younger.’
Elizabeth was the widow of the late William Buttrose, a prominent banker who held senior positions at Macquarie Bank, Lloyds Bank and NatWest. He was also a respected commentator on Nine’s Today show.
William died in 2006 at the age of 62 after a two-year battle with cancer.
The couple, who met at a party they both attended unannounced when they were 20, had three children: Richard, socialite Lizzie and Evie, a director at law firm Corrs Chambers Westgarth.
Ita Buttrose (pictured) has confirmed the death of her sister-in-law, Sydney public figure Elizabeth Buttrose, who passed away peacefully at a care home in Sydney’s eastern suburbs on Friday.
The late Elizabeth and Will Buttrose (pictured)
The sad news comes after Ita stepped down as ABC chair in March.
As her replacement Kim Williams prepares to take over the role, Buttrose said Stellar is something to talk about podcast it was just her time.
“Five years is quite a long time to work for the ABC,” she told editor-in-chief Sarrah Le Marquand.
‘I know that some chairs have had a second term, but I am aware that I am a woman of a certain age’.
“Sometimes you have to examine yourself and say, ‘Well, I’m a person of a certain age and everything is fine, and cognitively I’m fine,’ but still weigh it up.”
The sad news comes after Ita stepped down as ABC chair in March
“Five more years. What would that be like? You have to know within yourself when to step aside. I felt that. It had nothing to do with current events,” she added.
Communications Minister Michelle Rowland unexpectedly announced last August that Ita would step down as ABC chair.
“Ms Buttrose is a giant in the Australian media sector and the government is grateful for her exemplary service as chair of the ABC,” Rowland said at the time, paying tribute to the media icon’s time as head of the national public broadcaster.