Mel Schilling‘s widower Gareth Brisbane has shared insight into the family’s private funeral as they laid to rest the star following her tragic death.

The Australian psychologist-turned-dating expert died last month at the age of 54 following a battle with cancer, leaving behind her British husband of eight-years and their beloved daughter Maddie, ten.

Taking to Instagram Gareth gushed over Maddie saying how proud her mother would be after she gave a ‘beautiful’ speech at the funeral, which was live streamed for Mel’s family back in Oz.

They then followed the late star’s wishes of scattering her ashes in Gareth’s hometown of Whitehead, Northern Ireland, ahead of him and their daughter starting a new life in Bali.

Alongside snaps of Mel and picturesque Whitehead, he penned: ‘Hey everyone. Thanks so much for all the messages of support over the past month since our girl’s passing, Maddie and I have drawn enormous strength from how so very loved she was and is’.

‘We laid Mel to rest on the 9th April. It was a lovely private ceremony for family and close friends which we streamed to Mel’s family in Oz. Maddie announced on the morning of the funeral that she had written a little speech which she delivered beautifully. Every inch her mother’s daughter and I couldn’t be prouder’.

Mel Schilling's widower Gareth Brisbane has shared insight into the family's private funeral as they laid to rest the star following her tragic death
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Mel Schilling’s widower Gareth Brisbane has shared insight into the family’s private funeral as they laid to rest the star following her tragic death

Gareth gushed over Maddie saying how proud her mother would be after she gave a 'beautiful' speech at the funeral, which was live streamed for Mel's family back in Oz.
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Gareth gushed over Maddie saying how proud her mother would be after she gave a ‘beautiful’ speech at the funeral, which was live streamed for Mel’s family back in Oz.

He continued: ‘Last weekend we scattered some of Mel’s ashes at the lighthouse in my hometown of Whitehead, Northern Ireland as was her wish’.

‘It’s a special place that really resonated with her, a place where strangers say hello as you pass, and a place we can now come back to to reflect on our incredible 15 years together’.

Gareth went on: ‘In a few short weeks Maddie and I will be welcomed back into the arms of mother Bali where we will begin our next chapter. No better place to heal, a place that we all loved and where we still have some of our dearest friends who had the most wonderful blessing ceremony for Mel at our new villa last weekend’.

Before adding: ‘The photo of Mel in white is what we chose as her funeral photo. Equal parts glam, warmth and vulnerability which was her all over. Love and light to you all’.

Mel tragically died aged 54 just days after revealing her cancer had spread to her brain.

The Australian psychologist-turned-dating expert was diagnosed with colon cancer in 2023 and she and her family had been living in London, where she was being treated.

The dating expert died last month at the age of 54 following a battle with cancer , leaving behind her British husband of eight-years and their beloved daughter Maddie, ten
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The dating expert died last month at the age of 54 following a battle with cancer , leaving behind her British husband of eight-years and their beloved daughter Maddie, ten

They then followed the late star's wishes of scattering her ashes in Gareth's hometown of Whitehead, Northern Ireland , ahead of him and his daughter staring a new life in Bali
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They then followed the late star’s wishes of scattering her ashes in Gareth’s hometown of Whitehead, Northern Ireland , ahead of him and his daughter staring a new life in Bali

Gareth also showed off one beaming snap of Mel which he said the family had chosen to use at her funeral
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Gareth also showed off one beaming snap of Mel which he said the family had chosen to use at her funeral


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he penned 'Hey everyone. Thanks so much for all the messages of support over the past month since our girl’s passing, Maddie and I have drawn enormous strengthit'
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he penned ‘Hey everyone. Thanks so much for all the messages of support over the past month since our girl’s passing, Maddie and I have drawn enormous strengthit’

She announced that ‘after a tumour the size of a lemon’ was successfully removed she had been given the all-clear.

But in a lengthy Instagram post she revealed that she found out her cancer had metastasised to her lungs in February 2024, and over Christmas 2025 it was discovered it had spread to her brain.

Mel’s Northern Irish husband Gareth Brisbane confirmed the news of her death in a beautiful statement in which he spoke about her love for him and their daughter Madison, 10.

He wrote: ‘Melanie Jane Brisbane-Schilling passed away peacefully today, surrounded by love.

‘In her final moments, when I thought cancer had taken away her ability to speak, she ushered me closer and whispered a message for Maddie and me that will sustain me for the rest of my life.

‘It took all of her remaining strength, and that gesture summed up our wee Melsie perfectly. Even then, her only thought was for Maddie and me.

‘This is a woman who became a new mum and a TV star at 42 — and nailed both.’

‘This is a woman who, through two years of chemotherapy, when she could barely lift her head from the pillow, never complained and never stopped showing courage, grace, compassion and empathy, and never missed a day of filming.

‘To most of you, she was Mel Schilling — matriarch of MAFS and queen of reality TV. To Maddie and me, she was our wee Melsie: an incredible mum, role model, and soulmate.’

‘On behalf of our family and her incredible friendship group, thank you for the support from around the world.’