Patti Newton has led mourners in the heartfelt ceremony remembering her late husband Bert Newton.
WATCH BELOW: Bert and Patti Newton’s best family photos
As she arrived at the state funeral in honour of the TV legend at Melbourne’s St Patrick’s Cathedral on Friday morning, Patti was joined by friends and family to farewell Bert.
Patti, dressed in all black, was surrounded by her six grandchildren, as well as her daughter Lauren and her husband Matt Welsh, as they made their way inside.
She was surrounded by loved ones who will shower her with support on what is undoubtedly a very hard day.
Her grief was expressed by Bert’s friend and former co-star Susie Elelman, who spoke about Patti’s devastation during an appearance on the Today show.
“Understandably, she is shattered,” Susie said of Patti. “She said to me her heart has broken, but Bert is now at peace.”
The sad news of Bert’s passing rocked the nation after it was confirmed on Saturday, October 30, following months of ill health for the 83-year-old.
The beloved star had his leg amputated earlier this year following complications from an infected toe, where Patti later revealed that it was a difficult road to recovery for Bert.
He is survived by his wife Patti and their two children, Lauren and Matthew, with Patti having revealed her late husband’s final moments.
“It’s very, very devastating. All our hearts are breaking because he was just the most wonderful man,” she told reporters outside of the family home the day after his passing.
“I left at ten past seven, and I was just pulling around to come into my drive and I get the call to say he’d taken his last breath at 7.22pm.
“So I missed him, but maybe he didn’t want me to be there for his last breath,” she said of his final moments.
“We have to just make sure that the love he gave us stays with us forever,” the 76-year-old added.
Patti also spoke of her husband to the Herald Sun ahead of the funeral, where she said he lived to be loved and would be stunned by the outpouring of grief and affection over his passing.
“He would be overwhelmed by the response,” Patti told the publication. “I’m overwhelmed by it, because I find myself thinking: I hope I appreciated him enough. I hope I told him how fabulous he was.”
She added: “Bert wanted to be loved and he never thought he was. He wanted more than anything in the world to be loved. He always said, ‘Do you love me?’ I’d say, ‘Don’t be stupid, of course I love you.’ Nothing was enough. It had to be more.”
Patti also spoke of how she and the rest of Bert’s family want him remembered as a “wonderful, loving fun man who lived with us at home.”
WATCH BELOW: Patti and Bert Newton’s incredible love story
For his funeral, Australian entertainment journalist Peter Ford explained on The Morning Show that Patti had met with representatives from the Premier’s office to discuss the arrangements for Bert’s service.
“I think what Patti was very determined to do was to try and find that middle ground between it being a religious service, a mass, but also have the show business element as well,” Peter said.
Peter also confirmed that Bert and Patti’s son Matthew would not be in attendance, where he instead composed a message to be read on the day.
Patti had revealed to Daily Mail Australia that Matthew, who is based in New York, did not make the trip home for the service due to “logistics” and COVID.
WATCH BELOW: Remembering Australian icon Bert Newton
For more on the life and legacy of Aussie TV legend Bert Newton, see below:
- Everything to know about Bert Newton’s funeral
- Why Matthew Newton isn’t attending his father Bert’s funeral
- Australia’s golden couple: Looking back at Bert and Patti Newton’s relationship
- Bert Newton 1938-2021: “He gave us so much joy!”
- Australian TV royalty: A glimpse at Bert Newton’s career through the years
- Keeping up with the Newtons! Bert and Patti Newton’s best family photos
- Bert Newton’s pride and joy! Meet the TV legend’s six gorgeous grandkids
- Bert Newton celeb tributes
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