Ita Buttrose has confirmed the passing of her sister-in-law, Elizabeth Buttrose, a prominent Sydney identity, who died peacefully in a care facility in Sydney’s Eastern Suburbs on Friday.
Elizabeth, who was just a week away from her 79th birthday, had endured a long battle with health issues, following multiple strokes over a decade ago.
Her funeral is set to take place on October 1, the day she would have turned 79.
In a statement to The Daily Telegraph, Ita Buttrose expressed her grief, saying, ‘My sister-in-law endured a long illness and she is now at peace.
‘She was loved by all, and we have wonderful memories from when we were younger.’
Elizabeth was the widow of the late William Buttrose, a high-profile banking figure who held senior roles at Macquarie Bank, Lloyds Bank, and NatWest, and was a respected commentator on Nine’s Today show.
William passed away in 2006 at the age of 62 after a two-year battle with cancer.
The couple, who famously met at a party they both gatecrashed in their 20s, raised three children: Richard, socialite Lizzie, and Evie, a director at law firm Corrs Chambers Westgarth.
Ita Buttrose (pictured) has confirmed the passing of her sister-in-law, Elizabeth Buttrose, a prominent Sydney identity, who died peacefully in a care facility in Sydney’s Eastern Suburbs on Friday
The late Elizabeth and Will Buttrose (pictured)
The sad news comes after Ita stepped down from her role as chair of the ABC in March.
With her replacement Kim Williams preparing to take over the role, Buttrose told Stellar’s Something To Talk About podcast it was simply her time.
‘Five years is quite a long time to serve the ABC’ she told editor-in-chief Sarrah Le Marquand.
‘I know some chairs have gone on and done a second term, but I’m conscious that I’m a woman of a certain age’.
‘Sometimes you need to examine yourself and say, “Well, I am a person of a certain age and everything’s fine, and cognitively I’m good,” but still, weigh it up.’
The sad news comes after Ita stepped down from her role as chair of the ABC in March
‘Another five years. What would it be like? You have to know in yourself when you need to step aside. I felt that. It had nothing to do with any current events,’ she added.
Communications Minister Michelle Rowland made the unexpected announcement last August that Ita was stepping down as chairperson of ABC.
‘Ms Buttrose is a giant of Australia’s media industry, and the government thanks her for her exemplary service as chair of the ABC,’ Rowland said at the time, paying tribute to the media icon’s time as head of the national public broadcaster.
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