TV legend Kerri-Anne Kennerley’s devoted husband of 35 years John is remembered at a star-studded Sydney funeral – three years after a freak fall left him a quadriplegic
- Kerri-Anne Kennerley’s beloved husband John, ‘the absolute love of her life’, died age 79 last month
- The television icon’s life partner died in hospital following a bout of pneumonia, his latest health battle
- John Kennerley fell off a balcony and damaged his spinal cord in March 2016, causing terrible hardship
- Devastating incident led John to become an ‘incomplete quadriplegic’ with KAK to become his carer
- About 400 people attended the engineer’s funeral service in Woollahra, with guests dressed in colour
Advertisement
Kerri-Anne Kennerley’s husband John has been farewelled at a packed funeral service, with guests dressing in colourful outfits in tribute.
John, 79, died from pneumonia about two weeks ago, the latest in a series of health battles he had fought since his paralysing fall from a balcony three years ago.
About four hundred people gathered to say goodbye to John, an accomplished engineer, at All Saints Anglican church in Woollahra, in Sydney’s east on Monday.
Kerri-Anne, his wife of 35 years, wiped tears from her eyes as she greeted mourners. She was dressed in a shoulderless floral number.
The order of service: Kerri-Anne shared this photograph of her and John sharing a happy moment with mourners
A splash of colour: John Kennerley’s order of service featured him in happy moments around the world with his TV star wife, family and friends – including while he was in a wheelchair
Kerri-Anne’s Studio 10 co-hosts Denise Scott, Angela Bishop and Joe Hildebrand left the morning program early to support KAK
Channel Nine entertainment editor Richard Wilkins and television personality and model Deborah Hutton arrive
Studio 10 co-host Sarah Harris told viewers that ‘KAK’, as she is known, was ‘doing it tough’ after losing the ‘love of her life’
John had requested in advance that guests wear colour and donate to charity in lieu of bringing flowers.
In a poignant eulogy, his son, Simon, told mourners: ‘He lived a tremendous life. I love you dearly dad.
‘I am proud to be your son. I miss you already’.
Kerri-Anne and John were known to be a true partnership, with friends saying they ‘did everything together’.
Among mourners were Kerri-Anne’s Studio 10 co-hosts Sarah Harris, Angela Bishop and Joe Hildebrand.
Nine entertainment editor Richard Wilkins, model Deborah Hutton and Governor-General Sir Peter Cosgrove were also in attendance.
John’s casket was adorned with two of his favourite handmade model trains.
It was a favourite hobby, with Harris telling viewers John even had a model train running through the family home.
More happy memories for the Kennerley clan. John was adventurous, driving power boats in competition and rally cars, his late friend Mike Willesee said
John Kennerley’s life took a turn in 2016 when he fell a metre of a balcony, injuring his neck and irreparably damaging his spinal cord
‘KAK is doing it really tough at the moment,’ Harris said.
‘John was the absolute love of her life.
‘But they don’t come much tougher than our KAK.’
Kerri-Anne will take some time off and return to the Network Ten panel show at the end of the month.
The hosting panel left the program early to attend the service.
Kerri-Anne announced her husband’s death on Instagram on February 28.
‘It’s with a heavy heart and awful sadness that I let you know that my beautiful husband John passed away last night,’ she said.
‘As you all know, John has faced some tremendous challenges over the past few years and with each he has been extraordinarily brave and determined to overcome those hurdles and live a normal life.’
He died at St Vincent’s Hospital with Kerri-Anne and his son Simon by his side.
JOHN KENNERLEY’S TRAGIC BALCONY FALL
Rest in peace: John Kennerley, in a picture from his order of service
John and Kerri-Anne Kennerley faced terrible hardship after he fell off a balcony at a golf course in March 2016.
He fractured his C3 and C4 vertebrae, leaving him an ‘incomplete’ quadriplegic.
John was in intensive care for seven weeks and only left hospital about nine months later.
He regained the ability to speak and some limited movement in his fingers and toes.
Kerri-Anne spoke about the fall in an interview with Sunday Night three years ago.
The interviewer was Mike Willesee – whose death was sadly announced the same day as John’s.
Willesee wrote: ‘His body is not working, but the John I know is still there.
‘ The fight in which he is now engaged is being engaged fully.
‘And he could have no one better in the trenches beside him than Kerri-Anne.’