Shock death of active church member leaves family and community devastated

A family has been shattered after shock passing of their beloved father who worked tirelessly in several jobs to support his family.

Absolom Gilonite, 48, died suddenly on February 8, leaving behind his beloved wife, daughter and three siblings.

The sudden death of a beloved father, husband and brother has sent shockwaves through the northern suburbs community last week.

Gilonite Absolom died from a heart attack on February 8.

Known fondly by his family, friends and the Adelaide Tamil Catholic Community as ‘Gloni’, Mr Absolom was waiting in the car to pick up his 16-year-old daughter from her high school when he collapsed.

Absolom Gilonite, 48, died suddenly on February 8, leaving behind his beloved wife, daughter and three siblings. Picture: Supplied

Absolom Gilonite with his family. Picture: Supplied

Despite being rushed to the Royal Adelaide Hospital for treatment, the Modbury resident sadly passed away. He was only 48 years old.

Mr Absolom’s brother Jude, 52, described him as the “best of the best”.

“He sacrificed everything. He worked every possible job to support the family,” he said.

“He was doing Uber Eats and working (shifts) at RM Williams to make extra money.”

Mr Absolom led an “organised and disciplined life” by planning everything in detail — down to buying his daughter’s high school formal dress four months in advance to avoid last-minute mishaps.

“We lost our parents and still the family stood together … even though Loni was the youngest, every decision would go to him and he would decide,” Jude said.

“I cried when my mother passed away and my father passed away. That was certain. But this is … different.

“He was the backbone of us. The value of siblings, you can’t replace that.”

Gilonite Absolom, 48, died suddenly on February 8, leaving behind his beloved wife, daughter and three siblings. Picture: Supplied

The youngest of four siblings, Mr Absolom was an experienced interior decorator with many years spent building his career in Karnataka, India.

He immigrated with his family to Australia in 2022 to support his daughter’s medical school dream, where he believed she’d receive the best education.

A GoFundMe has been launched by the Adelaide Tamil Catholic Community to support his wife and daughter, and also repatriate Mr Absolom back to India to be buried alongside his parents.

The GoFundMe has raised more than $19,000 and is halfway towards the $40,000 goal.

Mr Absolom is survived by his wife Celine George, daughter Aneena, brother Jude Paroh and sisters Cabrini Solomon and Ronica Genever.

You can support the family by donating to the GoFundMe page.

Originally published as Shock death of active church member leaves family and community devastated