The popular doctor from Married at First Sight died peacefully at home, surrounded by his family and will be buried on Friday.
Trisha’s former MAFS co-star John Aiken announced she died on Monday.
The life of The 72-year-old New Zealand-based clinical neuropsychotherapist will be farewelled at a funeral in Auckland on Friday.
Her family, in an obituary announcement for her funeral, described the television personality as a “matriarch” and a “wonder woman” to her three daughters, Gina, Lily and Mare O’Neil, and true love to her partner Roger Lampen.
She was also a much loved grandmother and aunt.
HHis daughter, Gina O’Neill, told Daily Mail Australia the family would release information about his death in due course.
“We ask that you respect our family and grieve privately at this time,” she said.
John Aiken (right, with Trisha) announced the news on Instagram, posting “I am heartbroken and devastated by the passing of my friend and dear colleague Trisha.”
The funeral notice published in the New Zealand Herald requested donations to Mercy Hospice in Auckland in lieu of flowers.
The Mercy specializes in providing specialized community services palliative care
Dr Stratford rose to fame when she joined the first season of the reality TV show in 2015 alongside relationship expert John Aitken.
“I am heartbroken and devastated by the passing of my friend and dear colleague Trisha,” he announced on Instagram on the occasion of her passing.
“We shared seven incredible seasons of MAFS together. She loved everything New Zealand, relationships, the All Blacks, the Black Caps, French wine and traveling the world. I will miss you Tish. “Thank you for all the memories.”
On Tuesday, he appeared on the Today show to share his fondest memories of working with the neuro-psychotherapist, telling co-hosts Karl Stefanovic and Sarah Abo that Trisha was an “incredible woman” and a “voice of reason” on the tray.
“Nothing could really shake him. She was always the smartest person in the room when I was around her. The MAFS participants were throwing 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 asking contestants if they had been “intimate” with each other.
John Aiken was dejected while appearing on the Today show discussing his friendship with Trisha
“In the end, I couldn’t compromise my professional and personal standards because there were participants on the show who I didn’t think should have been there,” she told Woman’s New Zealand Day.
“You were flirting with her on set, you know, and she didn’t know anything about it,” 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 Australasia’s number one show and also toured the world, she was also quite a private person and she 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 accomplishments including being a single mother to three daughters while maintaining an impressive career.
Trisha was New Zealand’s first sports journalist, then became a war correspondent before retraining to become a clinical neuropsychotherapist.
Channel 9 said in a statement: “We are deeply saddened to learn of the passing of Dr. Trisha Stratford.
“Our deepest condolences and deepest sympathies go out to his family and loved ones during this difficult time.”
During her time on the show, Trisha was known for her “pheromone test” and 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 was taking a step back ahead of the eighth season.
“After seven seasons of Married at First Sight, I have decided to step away from the television series to focus on my writing, research and neuropsychotherapy,” Trisha said in a statement at the time.
In early 2021, Trisha also came forward to launch a scathing attack on the controversial reality series, saying it left her “sick.”
“In the end, I couldn’t compromise my professional and personal standards because there were participants on the show who I didn’t think should have been there,” she told Woman’s New Zealand Day.
