Jane Jones, wife of Dean Jones of 34 years and mother of two children, has spoken of the family’s grief at losing the 59-year-old to a heart attack and her appreciation for the worldwide outpouring of gratitude for his eventful life. in cricket.
A grand commemorative celebration will be held for Jones, with his wife indicating that the family was anxious for his life and that the contribution to so many would be properly and appropriately recognized at the memorium.
Plans are underway to return Jones’ body to Australia after he died in Mumbai on Thursday while working as an IPL analyst for Star Sports alongside the likes of Scott Styris and Brett Lee. Jane Jones singled out Lee in appreciation for his well-publicized effort in trying to keep her husband alive.
“My girls and I are devastated and saddened beyond belief to learn of Dean’s death in India,” Jane Jones said in a statement. “My beautiful husband, the love of my life has lived his life with all the energy at his disposal, and he leaves a huge void in our lives that can never be filled. He leaves us with so many wonderful memories that will last forever.
“In this challenging time, when our pain is so raw, we have received much comfort from the many messages of goodwill and support from so many people around the world. Given Dean’s special love for the subcontinent, it was especially moving to hear so widely from India, Pakistan, Sri Lanka and Afghanistan.
“We are overwhelmed by the magnitude of the response to the news of his death and will always be grateful for that. We especially want to thank and acknowledge Brett Lee’s tireless efforts to keep Dean alive.”
Dean and Janes Jones were married in Toorak in 1986 and had established a home with their daughters in the Macedonian Ranges town of Romsey, about an hour’s drive northwest of Melbourne, for the past 25 years.
“At this time, we sincerely ask the world of cricket to respect the privacy of our family,” Jones said. “Details of Dean’s memorial celebration will be released in due course so that everyone has the opportunity to properly commemorate his wonderful legacy and say goodbye.”
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