Jock Zonfrillo died in 2023. Here's everything his wife Lauren has said about him since.

It's been almost two years since cooking legend and Masterchef judge Jock Zonfrillo passed away, but his memory lives on through the heartfelt tributes shared by those who loved him.

His wife, Lauren Zonfrillo, has been a constant source of love and remembrance, speaking often about their life together and the grief she's traversed since his death. 

In December 2024, she announced a new book, titled Till Death Do Us Part, which will delve into their relationship and how she has dealt with the aftermath of her husband's death. 

What is Till Death Do Us Part about?

"This is a book of my lived experience through traumatic loss, the kind of support that I was reaching out for in the shadows of grief, and being homesick for a life that didn't exist anymore," Lauren said in an Instagram post.

In honour of this tribute to Jock, we're looking back at some of the most touching things Lauren has shared about him over the years. 

Watch Andy Allen's touching tribute to Jock on Masterchef. Article continues after video. 

Everything Lauren Zonfrillo has said about her husband Jock.

"I really wish that he knew how loved he was and he knew the impact that he had on so many people."

One month after Jock's passing, Lauren shared a heartfelt video to her Instagram, addressing the tragedy and thanking those who supported her during the difficult time.

"I put in a line in the sand thinking that at the one-month mark I would turn some kind of a corner," Lauren said. "Obviously that hasn't happened."

"And there's no time that I could allocate to say thank you to everyone. I am just overwhelmed by the messages that came in from people all over the world that knew him or didn't know him."

Jock and Lauren Zonfrillo share two children. Image: Instagram/laurenzonfrillo.

Speaking about Jock's legacy, Lauren reflected on how his influence continues to inspire people, even in his absence, and also spoke of all the projects he was working on before his death.

"I really wish that he knew how loved he was and he knew the impact that he had on so many people," she said.

"He's got a lot of behind the scenes interviews and photos from MasterChef. He's got books, a fashion range. He's got spirits ageing in a distillery in Tassie. He's got a TV show he filmed in Italy last year with the family," she said.

Lauren Zonfrillo addresses Jock's passing. Article continues after video. 

"I cried as I dressed the kids. I fell asleep without Jock."

Following her daughter's first birthday after Jock's passing, Lauren shared a bittersweet tribute to her late-husband and reminisced about what a present and involved father he was.

"We had Isla's first birthday party without her Papa," she wrote.

Lauren posted a tribute to Jock on their daughter's birthday. Image: Instagram/zonfrillo. 

"Jock would have been up all night the day before, the first one out of bed in the morning. Menu planning for weeks. Then I would have fallen asleep on Jock's chest after the party, talking through how it went, if Isla had a good time, did people eat and drink enough, would she remember any of it?"

Lauren made a candid confession about how "unfair and unbearable" it felt that Jock was no longer able to spend these special milestones with their family.

"Happy anniversary My Love."

On January 1, Lauren celebrated her anniversary with Jock. The first since his passing.

"Happy anniversary My Love," she wrote in the caption, along with a video compilation of photos from their wedding day. "Our dream of growing old together in the middle of nowhere in Italy — kids and dogs under our feet, you laughing your enormous laugh, falling asleep on your chest — is so vivid. That's where I imagine you now."

Jock and Lauren Zonfrillo's wedding video. Article continues after video. 

"He gave people the courage to push and maybe leap into the unknown." 

In February of this year, Masterchef took home an award for the Best Reality Program at the AACTA and as a tribute to Jock, Lauren took to the stage to commemorate him and his legacy on the show.

"He gave people the courage to push and maybe leap into the unknown because they had his support as a safety net," Lauren said in an emotional speech.

"That's why, as a Masterchef judge, he so naturally did that as each contestant walked into the kitchen. And I think that's very much why he has such an impactful chapter in the history of Masterchef."

Watch Lauren Zonfrillo's tribute to her husband at the AACTA awards. Article continues after video. 

She also took a moment to thank Jock's Masterchef co-judge and friend, Andy Allen, for his support and his friendship during one of the most difficult chapters of her family's life.

"I'd love to thank Andy Allen," she said. "When Ava said her eulogy to her dad, she chose Andy to stand by her side and that says everything about the very special place that he has in our family.

"Without Jock, the days seemed like they'd been drained of colour, but today is one of pride and celebration for the kids and I."

"Jock, always doing the reckless stuff with the kids that I would never do. And I wouldn't have had it any other way."

On Father's Day 2024, Lauren shared an adorable post showing Jock playing with both his children. In the video, Jock is seen turning the kids upside down and swaying them back and forth as they laugh.

"Jock, always doing the reckless stuff with the kids that I would never do. And I wouldn't have had it any other way," she wrote in the caption. "I imagine in your final moment you saw your children's faces. You felt the overwhelming love from the incredible humans you left behind. And you realised that the most beautiful parts of you are yet to be realised in them."

Jock Zonfrillo with his two children. Article continues after video. 

When is Lauren Zonfrillo's book Till Death Do Us Part coming out in Australia?

The book is expected to detail Lauren's journey from "absolute catastrophe" to her new role as a single parent with two young children.

"Despite it all (our life) is quite bright and optimistic," she said. "So I've written my book, which is my journey through grief, it was not at all cathartic.

"But it did make me think deeper about some really complex parts of grief," she added.

Lauren has also opened up about experiencing 'grief amnesia' following Jock's death, and that she had to endure the waves of grief while trying to be a support to her young family.

"I tried as many roads away from the impact zone as I could, and I tried them as quickly as possible," she said.

Lauren's new book is coming out in 2025. Image: Instagram/laurenzonfrillo. 

"I had our three and five year olds that needed normal levels of parenting, which at that age is quite a lot, but they also needed extra care and nurturing as they learned to live with grief in their life."

She says she found the way through by adding to her life, enriching it to make the grief feel smaller.

"By building a bigger life, I was able to make grief a smaller percentage of that and create a space for happiness, and that's where we are now."

The book will be officially available for purchase in Australia in May 2025.

Feature image: Instagram/laurenzonfrillo.