THEY didn't come any more chic and classy than the forever elegant Maureen Duval.
A former model and David Jones ambassador and marvelous mum, she was a woman who made daytime TV cool, well before anyone realised it.
Maureen Delany (nee Duval) died on Thursday, surrounded by the tight-knit Delany family.
Renowned for her no-nonsense, down-to-earth appearances on the popular panel of the Foxtel series, Beauty And The Beast, Maureen Delany passed away with husband Patrick, and sons Patrick and Julian by her side. The couple's two other sons, Michael and Rohan, are heading home with their families from overseas.
Admitted to Royal North Shore Private Hospital earlier this year, no-one who met Maureen Delany would ever forget her. How could you, her long, lean model-perfect looks oozed grace and charm.
Maureen always made time to talk to anyone who came anywhere near her dazzling and calming gaze.
And well before daytime TV hosts became rock stars, 'Mausie' was hosting daily TV with grace and aplomb, two qualities she never left behind.
A mega successful model in the swinging 60s, with an alumni which included names like Maggi Eckardt and Maggie Tabberer, it was winning a Miss Australia pageant that put her on the path to TV notoriety.
Maureen went on to be the 'face' of David Jones well before Miranda and Megan lent their star power to the brand.
In a statement the Delany family said:
"Mum was an extraordinary influence on our lives. She loved people and entertaining - the family HQ in Mosman was always full of people and there was always a beautiful meal on offer.
"Her life centred around the love of her life, our father Pat Delany, who she was married to for 60 years and of course her four boys.
"Incredibly she was able to also fit in a media career. Twenty years as the sales face of DJs and 10 years with her morning show on Ten.
"Dinner at the Delany house was filled with talk of why TV ads were good or bad and picking apart TV shows. "We will miss her but she lives on us and her 10 grandchildren."
It was later in her career - when her boys were grown up, that the model and TV face made a return to TV as a panelist on Foxtel's Beauty And The Beast working with names like the late host, Stan Zemanek as well as Carlotta, Jeanne Little, Prue MacSween, Jan Murray and Maggie Tabberer.
A long time friend, supporter and fan, Foxtel's director of television Brian Walsh was always keen to work with Duval, who he described as the consummate professional, a moral compass and an icon for women on television.
"Maureen Duval was a television pioneer, whose values and standards were of an era," said Mr Walsh.
"Maureen commanded her own successful talk show on Channel Ten in the 70s and 80s and paved the way for so many women on Australian television.
"Always dignified, reliably hard working and forever graceful, Maureen was a big personality with a huge heart. Her warm and generous humour was her trademark, as was her humility and compassion.
"A wonderful mother of four boys and loving wife to Pat, she will be as remembered for her devotion to her family and friends as she will for her illustrious career.
"Australian television has lost an industry pioneer, but we have all lost a wonderful friend and a woman of style and substance."
Between 1978 and 1989 Maureen hosted the Ten Network's morning magazine program, Good Morning Sydney. "Maureen was a pioneer of the Australian television industry and had a long association with Ten, including many years as the host of Good Morning Sydney.
"She was the consummate professional and paved the way for many other television hosts," said Network Ten Chief Programming Officer, Beverley McGarvey.
"Our thoughts are with Maureen's family at this very sad time. She will be greatly missed by everyone who knew her."
Married to lawyer Patrick Delany for five decades, Maureen Duval leaves behind her four sons and 10 grandchildren.
A true beacon of style and substance, Maureen Delany will be greatly missed.
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