Tahnee Sims has farewelled her partner, X Factor Australia‘s Johnny Ruffo, with a heartbreaking eulogy at his memorial service following his death.
On November 10, an announcement on the entertainer’s Instagram page revealed the 35-year-old had lost his long-term battle with brain cancer.
His funeral was held on November 25 at Balcatta Senior High School in Perth, where over 500 people attended to pay their respects.
Following the service, Tahnee, 29, took to social media to share the eulogy she gave on the day.
In the piece titled “Love | Johnny Ruffo”, Tahnee described how she “wasn’t that into the idea of love in general” until she crossed paths with Johnny, whom she met in a dance studio in 2013.
“I met John at the age of 19 and discovered that maybe I was into love,” she said.
“As two people who were both fiercely independent, focused on our own careers and a bit in denial that we were clearly meant for each other — we used to joke that we should have met later in life.
“But on August 7th, 2016, four years after we first met — it all became very clear why the universe had brought us together so young.
“There wasn’t going to be a ‘later life’ for John. There was, however, going to be a better ‘early life’ than either of us could ever have imagined.”
Tahnee Sims described how she and Johnny Ruffo lived life to the fullest
Tahnee listed how she and Johnny lived life to the fullest, “knowing that each day really could be [their] last together”.
“We held our hugs a little longer. Gave forgiveness a whole lot faster… Ended every single goodbye with an ‘I love you’,” she recalled.
“And most importantly — we acknowledged how lucky we were to share such a deep connection and love for one another.”
Tahnee confessed she was aware that “not everyone gets to experience that kind of love”.
“Which is why I will always be forever grateful for the happily ever after I got to have with John — albeit for only 10 years,” she said.
The Home and Away star’s long-term partner wrapped up her eulogy by detailing “every single thing” she will miss about Johnny.
Tahnee expressed: “The way he loved, the way he lit up when he performed, the way he inspired me to work hard and to never give up.
“The way he was always helping others, the way he chose to tackle his cancer battle head on and that big, cheeky grin that could brighten even the darkest of days.
“Mostly, I will miss the way he always managed to make me laugh — no matter the occasion or how inappropriate the joke.”
“Until we meet again John, I love you,” Tahnee concluded.
The actor was first diagnosed with brain cancer in 2017, then for a second time in 2020.
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