Gladys Berejiklian’s father dies aged 90 with his daughter by his side as the boilermaker who worked on the Sydney Opera House is remembered as a man who ‘always looked on the bright side of life’
- Former NSW premier Gladys Berejiklian’s father Krikor has died, aged 90
- He passed away on July 10, following a battle with an undisclosed illness
- Berejiklian said her father was ‘a man who always looked on the bright side of life’
Ex-NSW premier Gladys Berejiklian has given a touching farewell to her father Krikor, who has died aged 90.
Krikor Berejiklian passed away on July 10, following an illness.
His wife of 52 years Arsha and their three daughters – Rita, Mary and Gladys- were by his side as he passed away at a Sydney hospital.
At his funeral on Thursday, held at Chatswood’s Armenian Apostolic Church, the former boilermaker and welder – who proudly worked on the Sydney Opera House – was remembered as a man who always looked on the bright side of life.
Former NSW premier Gladys Berejiklian’s father Krikor (left) has died, aged 90 after a short illness
At his funeral on Thursday, the former boilermaker and welder, who proudly worked on the Sydney Opera House, was remembered as a man who always looked on the bright side of life
The former NSW Premier addressed mourners at his traditional Armenian funeral service and burial, speaking of the family’s ‘overwhelming grief’ following his passing.
‘Our father was a humble man. He was a true gentleman, a real character and a friend to all he came into contact with,’ the former premier said, reports The Daily Telegraph.
‘His smiling face always brought great joy.’
Ms Berejiklian said her father instilled in his daughters a good work ethic and to always be proud of their Armenian heritage.
She described her father as ‘optimistic’ and ‘young at heart’ all the way to the end, sharing with mourners that three weeks before his death and with his health declining, he still left the family home for one last ride on a state bus from North Ryde to Wynyard before heading back home again.
‘When he was in hospital he was asked by the medical staff how old he was and without hesitation he answered ‘only 90′,’ she added.
The former NSW premier has always spoken highly of her father.
The former NSW premier said her father will always be remembered as ‘a man who always looked on the bright side of life’
In 2018 she said her relationship with her father was, ‘more a friendship than anything else, and a respect’.
‘We feel blessed to have them because not everybody has parents living to that age,’ she said.
‘No matter what happens in life, my Dad has always had a really positive attitude and I think that’s rubbed off a bit on me because he’s always very can-do and no matter what the situation is, he’ll always find a silver lining.’
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