Gladys Berejiklian’s father dies aged 90 with his daughter by his side as the boilermaker who worked at 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 died on July 10, following a battle with an undisclosed illness
- Berejiklian said his father was “a man who always looked on the bright side of life”
Gladys Berejiklian, former premier of New South Wales, has said a moving farewell to her father Krikor, who died aged 90.
Krikor Berejiklian died on July 10 following an illness.
His 52-year-old wife, Arsha, and their three daughters – Rita, Mary and Gladys – were by his side when he died in a Sydney hospital.
At his funeral on Thursday, held at the Armenian Apostolic Church in Chatswood, the former boilermaker and welder – who proudly worked at the Sydney Opera House – was remembered as a man who always looked on the bright side of life.
Krikor (left), the father of former New South Wales Premier Gladys Berejiklian, has died aged 90 after a short illness
At his funeral on Thursday, the former boilermaker and welder, who proudly worked at the Sydney Opera House, was remembered as a man who always looked on the bright side of life.
The former New South Wales premier addressed mourners at his traditional Armenian funeral service and burial, speaking of the family’s “overwhelming grief” after his passing.
“Our father was a humble man. He was a real gentleman, a real character and a friend to everyone he came in contact with,’ the former prime minister 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 that they should always be proud of their Armenian heritage.
She described her father as ‘optimistic’ and ‘young at heart’ until the end, sharing with mourners that three weeks before his death and with his health declining, he left the family home anyway to one last ride on the state bus. from North Ryde to Wynyard before returning home.
“When he was in the hospital, the medical staff asked him how old he was and without hesitation he replied ‘only 90’,” she added.
The former Premier of NSW always spoke highly of his father.
The former NSW Premier said his 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 about friendship than anything and respect”.
“We feel blessed to have them because not everyone has parents living at that age,” she said.
‘No matter what’s going on in life, my dad always had a really positive attitude and I think that touched me a bit because he’s always very capable and whatever the situation, he’ll always find a silver lining. .’
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