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Cornelia Frances' son speaks of Home and Away star's final days

Rebekah Scanlan
·Senior Lifestyle & Entertainment Producer


Cornelia Frances’ son has shared the intimate details of his mum’s last days before she sadly lost her battle with cancer.

Lawrence Eastland described the tender final moments he shared with the 77-year-old Home & Away star, revealing he was clutching her hand as she slipped away last Monday.

“I was by her side, holding her hand when she took her last breath. She slipped away in her sleep, it was serene,” he told Woman’s Day.

Former Home And Away star Cornelia Frances has passed away. Source: Getty
Former Home And Away star Cornelia Frances has passed away. Source: Getty

Frances first revealed to fans in January that she’d been diagnosed with bladder cancer 12 months earlier.

Lawrence explained to the publication that he “broke down” when he was told the devastating news, especially as the terminal illness left her in agony.

Lawrence has opened up about the Home & Away star’s final days, seen here together in hospital during her cancer battle. Source: Instagram/neonlolly
Lawrence has opened up about the Home & Away star’s final days, seen here together in hospital during her cancer battle. Source: Instagram/neonlolly

But since laying her to rest in a private service on Thursday, he says this mum is “finally at peace”.

“There was no pain. I feel relieved that Mum is finally at peace,” he said.

The 46-year-old had earlier paid tribute to the iconic actress in a moving post to Instagram, that was accompanied by a photo of Cornelia in her “final resting moment”.

A very personal photo of my mum during one of her resting moments, she is so peaceful, soft and serene. I truly love this woman. THIS IS NOT A PICTURE OF MUM WHEN SHE HAD PASSED AWAY, IT WAS TAKEN A WEEK BEFORE SHE PAST. #fuckcancer #beautiful #cornelia #mum #iloveyou #whatawoman #peace #sleepytime #sleep #rest #divinefeminine #strong #inspiring #iloveyoumum

A post shared by Lolly །ཨོཾ་མ་ཎི་པ ་དྨེ་ཧཱུྃ། (@neonlolly) on May 27, 2018 at 7:07pm PDT

Cornelia herself had been quite frank about her battle, describing herself as “still here” when she opened up about her illness to Sydney Confidential earlier this year.

“I discovered I had bladder cancer. This then spread to my hip bone which fractured, and then I almost died from loss of blood due to an ulcer in my throat. Despite all this, I am still here, as the old song goes,” she told the publication.

A string of Australian stars including cast members of Home & Away — where Cornelia played Morag Bellingham for 20 years — paid tribute to the star last week following the tragic news she had passed away.

Now Lawrence is trying to look forward, but admits he will miss his “best friend” greatly.

“Mum was my best friend, we had no secrets. I was so proud of her. I’m keeping a candle burning in her honour.”

She also starred in Young Doctors earlier in her acting career. Source: Channel Nine
She also starred in Young Doctors earlier in her acting career. Source: Channel Nine

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