Rachael Ray ‘shaken and heartbroken’ after death of chef pal Anne Burrell at age 55: 'Gone so soon'
LOS ANGELES, CALIFORNIA: Rachael Ray has expressed her heartbreak following the sudden death of her friend, Anne Burrell, who was 55.
Burrell died on Tuesday, June 17, at her home in Brooklyn, New York. Now, Ray has paid tribute to the celebrated chef, as per PEOPLE.
She wrote on Instagram, “The news about Anne has truly shaken us. John and I are heartbroken.”
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She continued in her social media post that she “can’t quite believe it — such a strong, vibrant, fearless woman, so full of life and love, could be gone so soon.”
Rachael Ray says Anne Burrell ‘cooked’ at her wedding anniversary
Calling the star of the ‘Worst Cooks in America’ “a rockstar”, she revealed that she “came to know her well through multiple seasons of Worst Cooks on Food Network, and she became so much more than a colleague.”
The 56-year-old TV personality also shared how deep her bond with Burrell was. She penned, “Anne honored me by asking me to be her bridesmaid, something I’d only done once before for my sister. Despite being surrounded by incredible chefs, she never once made me feel self-conscious about not being one — she always treated me as one of the gang.”
“She even cooked for me and my guests at my wedding anniversary in Italy,” Ray noted.
Rachael Ray calls Anne Burrell ‘a force in the kitchen’
Concluding her emotional post, the businesswoman shared that Burrell was “a force in the kitchen, in any room, in every life she touched,” as she added, “I’ll miss her friendship deeply. Everyone whose life she touched will miss her.”
“Sending love to Stuart and everyone who knew and loved Anne. We’ve lost someone truly special,” Ray stated.
Meanwhile, following the death of the famed chef, her family released a statement.
Anne Burrell remembered as ‘a remarkable person and culinary talent’
It read, “Anne was a beloved wife, sister, daughter, stepmother, and friend — her smile lit up every room she entered.”
“Anne’s light radiated far beyond those she knew, touching millions across the world. Though she is no longer with us, her warmth, spirit, and boundless love remain eternal,” the statement mentioned.
She’s now survived by her husband Stuart Claxton, his son, Javier, as well as her mother, Marlene, and her children Isabella, Amelia and Nicolas.
A statement issued by Food Network read, “Anne was a remarkable person and culinary talent – teaching, competing and always sharing the importance of food in her life and the joy that a delicious meal can bring. Our thoughts are with Anne’s family, friends and fans during this time of tremendous loss.”
