Mel Schilling’s husband, Gareth Brisbane, has shared an emotional message following her funeral.
The 54-year-old Married At First Sight star died in late March, weeks after sharing that doctors could no longer treat her cancer.
Schilling, a relationship coach on the dating show, was first diagnosed with bowel cancer in 2023. While given the all-clear, months later, during a routine check-up, doctors informed her that nodules had been discovered on her lungs.
She had 16 rounds of chemotherapy over the next two years; however, she was told that her cancer was terminal in March 2026, as it had metastasised to her lungs and the left side of her brain.
Schilling died from complications of her cancer ‘peacefully’ and ‘surrounded by love’, her family wrote in a statement.
Now, her partner has confirmed that she was ‘laid to rest’ on April 9.
Taking to the late Australian star’s Instagram page this weekend, Brisbane, whom she married in 2018, also shared that he and Maddie, Schilling’s 10-year-old daughter, will be relocating.
‘Thanks so much for all the messages of support over the past month since our girl’s passing,’ he wrote alongside a series of photos. ‘Maddie and I have drawn enormous strength from how so very loved she was and is.’
‘We laid Mel to rest on the 9th April,’ Brisbane said, describing it as a ‘lovely private ceremony for family and close friends’, which was also streamed online to relatives in Australia.
‘Maddie announced on the morning of the funeral that she had written a little speech which she delivered beautifully. Every inch her mother’s daughter and I couldn’t be prouder.’
Brisbane further revealed that, last weekend, some of Schilling’s ashes were scattered at the lighthouse in his hometown of Whitehead, Northern Ireland, as per her wishes.
‘It’s a special place that really resonated with her, a place where strangers say hello as you pass, and a place we can now come back to to reflect on our incredible 15 years together.’
On the upcoming ‘next chapter’ of their lives, he then wrote: ‘In a few short weeks Maddie and I will be welcomed back into the arms of mother Bali where we will begin our next chapter.
‘No better place to heal, a place that we all loved and where we still have some of our dearest friends who had the most wonderful blessing ceremony for Mel at our new villa last weekend.’
He concluded by revealing that one photo from the video montage, which showed Schilling smiling and wearing a white feathered blazer, was chosen as her funeral photo.
‘Equal parts glam, warmth and vulnerability which was her all over,’ he said, signing off with: ‘Love and light to you all’.
In the comments, fans and industry pals sent well-wishes and offered their condolences.
‘So much love to you all ❤️’, commented Celebs Go Dating agent Anna Williamson, with Vicky Pattison echoing: ‘Sending so much love 🥹♥️’
MAFS star Claire Nomarhas added: ‘She’d be so proud of you two. Your forever guardian angel 🤍’
‘You have been in my thoughts and heart constantly… How blessed to have had such an amazing woman by your side… sending love to you and Maddie and remembering the firecracker that was your amazing wife ❤️❤️❤️’, wrote A Place in the Sun host Amanda Lamb.
Tributes had also flooded in from famous figures after news of Schilling’s death broke in March. Channel 4 shared their own statement, describing her as someone who ‘radiated joy, warmth, and optimism’.
‘Everyone who knew her will miss all this about her and much more. We share in the sorrow that we’re sure many viewers will now feel at this terrible loss,’ added the broadcaster.
What are the symptoms of bowel cancer?
The NHS states that symptoms of bowel cancer can include:
- Changes in your poo, such as having softer poo, diarrhoea or constipation that is not usual for you
- Needing to poo more or less often than usual for you
blood in your poo, which may look red or black
bleeding from your bottom - Often feeling like you need to poo, even if you’ve just been to the toilet
- Tummy pain
- A lump in your tummy
- Bloating
- Losing weight without trying
- Feeling very tired for no reason
For more information, click here.
Additionally, Schilling was praised by the charity Bowel Cancer UK for her ‘courage in speaking so openly about bowel cancer, from her diagnosis through to treatment and everything in between’, declaring that her story ‘has already made a profound difference’.
Schilling first appeared on the Aussie version of Married At First Sight in 2016.
Living in London, she made several appearances on British TV shows, too, on game shows such as The Weakest Link, Countdown, and The Wheel.
She underwent her chemotherapy and subsequent radiotherapy while still filming for MAFS, having later announced that she would be stepping back from the programme after 12 seasons on the panel.
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