Mel Schilling never lost sight of what was most important in life.
And the seemingly married British host’s dedication to her family was best exemplified by her husband Gareth Brisbane, who died on March 24 after a two-year battle with colon cancer. She was 54 years old.
Following Ms Schilling’s death, Ms Brisbane posted on her Instagram page explaining how she had “settled” into her role as a mother to her 11-year-old daughter Maddie, while also fulfilling her TV duties.
“To most people, she was Mel Schilling, matriarch of MAFS and queen of reality TV,” he wrote. “To Maddie and I, she was our little Merci. A wonderful mother, role model, and soulmate.”
Brisbane also provided insight into her bittersweet split from Schilling, who was also the host of the Australian version of the reality series, after Schilling tackled her health battle with “courage, grace, compassion and empathy.”
“In her final moments, when I thought the cancer had taken away her ability to speak, she held me close and whispered a message to Maddie and me that would sustain us for the rest of our lives,” he said. “It took all her remaining strength. Her gesture perfectly described our little Merci. Yet all she could think about was Maddie and me.”
