I'll always love my Crazy John
THE grieving widow of mobile phone tycoon John Ilhan is staying strong for their children.
News
Don't miss out on the headlines from News. Followed categories will be added to My News.
THE grieving widow of mobile phone tycoon John Ilhan is staying strong for their children.
Patricia Ilhan, who converted to Islam to marry the businessman, says she will always love the man she wed in 1996.
Speaking for the first time since the 42-year-old's shock death on Tuesday, Mrs Ilhan vowed to keep a brave face for the sake of their four young children -- Yasmin, 10, Hannah, 8, Jaida, 6, and nine-month-old Aydin.
"The kids are great," Mrs Ilhan told the Herald Sun.
"They understand the severity of what's happened and I've just dropped everything and made myself available for them," she said.
"My only priority is my children."
Yesterday, Mrs Ilhan had the heartbreaking task of formally identifying her husband's body.
"Crazy" John Ilhan, one of Australia's richest men with an estimated fortune of $310 million, collapsed on his morning walk on Tuesday after suffering a heart attack.
A Muslim who did not drink, he had quit smoking, exercised regularly and always made time for his children.
Mrs Ilhan admits she is still trying to comprehend the tragedy. "Today is better than yesterday and I'm sure tomorrow will be better again," she said.
Mr Ilhan's parents will arrive in Melbourne this morning after their mercy dash home from Turkey.
Father Ali and mother Nezaket had been enjoying a two-month holiday in their homeland when their daughter Ayse called them with the devastating news.
"They were shocked, they didn't want to believe it. It's not easy for anyone to believe that a young man died from a heart attack like this," family friend Irfan Hassan said.
Mr Ilhan will be buried at Fawkner Cemetery after his funeral at the Broadmeadows Mosque tomorrow.
The death of another son will have rocked Ali and Nezaket -- their first-born son, Gerald, died 10 years ago in a suspected suicide.
Patricia Ilhan said the Broadmeadows service was open to everyone, but that it would be foremost an Islamic ceremony.
"It will be in full Turkish-Islamic tradition and the prayers will be said in Turkish and Arabic," she said.
A public memorial service is being arranged, she said.
Thousands are expected to pay their respects at the funeral, which is being co-ordinated by the Australian Islamic Funeral Service.
Funeral director Ali Ozturk said the service, to be carried out by Imam Mehmet Uorlumaz, would be held at the Broadmeadows Mosque between 11.30am and 1pm.
The funeral procession will travel along the Hume Highway and arrive at Fawkner Cemetery about 2pm.