Jen Bishop, a prominent Australian interior design personality and former journalist, has died at the age of 45 following a 10-month battle with stage four pancreatic cancer. Her husband, Damian Francis, announced her passing over the weekend, describing her fight as 'short but intensely brave.'
Bishop, widely recognized as the founder of the influential blog 'Interiors Addict,' had shared with followers that she was diagnosed with the terminal illness in October 2025. She spent several months in hospital due to excruciating pain that made it impossible for her to remain at home. Francis stated in a tribute that his wife died on a rainy Sydney evening on Sunday, August 9.
"I'm very proud and honoured to have called you my wife and my best friend," Francis wrote. "So very grateful for the love, guidance and support you have given me, and so very privileged to have raised two amazing children with you."
Bishop and Francis have two sons, Sebastian and Charlie. Francis expressed his pride in their children, noting that he sees multiple signs of his wife's spirit in them. He vowed to ensure their sons would have every opportunity to be as great as Bishop and to know her legacy.
Just a week prior to her death, Bishop attended her son Sebastian's school sporting match, despite battling significant pain and fatigue. Francis lauded this as a heroic act.
Bishop had undergone multiple surgeries and two types of chemotherapy treatments during her illness, while also coping with the mental anguish of a terminal diagnosis. She had been hospitalized for nearly four months.
Originally from the UK, Bishop moved to Australia in 2008. She met her husband Damian shortly after and they married nearly 13 years ago. Before launching 'Interiors Addict' in 2011, Bishop worked as a newspaper journalist and magazine editor. Her blog evolved into one of Australia's most popular interior design websites, attracting 150,000 readers.
Friends and colleagues paid tribute to Bishop. Darren Palmer, a judge on the reality TV show 'The Block,' described her as bright, dedicated, warm, kind, and generous. "There are so many more words to describe Jen, but so few to convey the sadness of you not being here," Palmer said. "You will be missed by so many who loved you, myself included, and the world is a little less bright without you and your lipstick smile in it."
In December, Bishop revealed her diagnosis, sharing the emotional toll it took. "Home is SO important to me, I even made a job out of talking about it. And having been stuck in hospital for five weeks, away from my sanctuary and my boys, I've never craved it more," she had said at the time. "I've been diagnosed with pancreatic cancer. Sadly it's causing me so much physical pain, I can't manage it at home. Being stuck in hospital, on top of keeping this secret, has been very isolating."
By May, a friend confirmed that Bishop's chemotherapy was no longer effective, as the cancer had spread to her lymph nodes and liver. Her final Instagram post showed her celebrating her 45th birthday, expressing gratitude for the moment despite her health challenges.
Francis encouraged donations to the Pancare Foundation Australia in lieu of flowers, stating that Jen would have been thrilled to raise more money for the cause.