A popular doctor on Married At First Sight spent her final moments surrounded by family before her shock death.
MAFS star Trisha Stratford’s family has revealed that she “died peacefully at home surrounded by her loved ones” on Sunday.
She was 72.
Describing her as a “matriarch” and a “wonder woman”, Dr Stratford’s children, grandchildren, siblings and other loved ones will gather in Auckland to say their final goodbyes on Friday.
She leaves behind a daughter, Gina, and her “true love”, partner Roger Lampen.
Former co-star John Aiken announced the death of his co-star on Monday, paying tribute to the clinical neuro-psychotherapist.
“I’m heartbroken and devastated that my friend and dear colleague Trisha has passed away,” he said on Instagram.
“We shared an amazing seven seasons of @MAFS together….I’ll miss you Tish. Thank you for all the memories.”
The clinical neuropsychologist featured as a relationship expert on the hit marriage reality show for seven years before departing in 2020.
“I have decided to step back from the television series to focus on my writing, research and neuropsychotherapy,” she said in a statement at the time.
Dr Stratford gave more context to her decision to depart the show in 2021, telling Women’s Day NZ “by the end, I couldn’t compromise my professional and personal standards because there were participants on the show who I felt shouldn’t have been there.”
“The participants we got in seasons six and seven were so outrageous and outside the norm that it wasn’t what I signed up for,” she said.
Before her work on MAFS, Dr Stratford was involved with 60 Minutes in New Zealand and Australia and was a war correspondent in Somalia and Bosnia.
“We are deeply saddened to hear about the passing of Dr Trisha Stratford,” a Nine Network spokesperson said in a statement.
“Our sincerest condolences and heartfelt sympathies go out to her family and those closest during this difficult time.”