Born in Sydney to immigrant parents (her father was from Poland and her mother from the United Kingdom) Lady Lowy met her future husband, at the time a sandwich-hand in Sydney’s CBD, at a Hanukkah party. She told her best friend she was going to marry him or nobody. But her mother had her doubts. Whats this immigrant boy ever going to amount to? she asked.
The pair was married by 1954.
Years later tragedy struck. By the age of 80 Lady Lowy was mentally frail and was later diagnosed with dementia. Sir Frank agreed to speak openly of the trauma of gradually losing his wife in a documentary, What Will Become of Us, which was screened at the Sydney Film Festival last year.
In the film, he tells director Steven Cantor: Nights are really very difficult because she goes to bed between 7 and 8 oclock and then I dont exactly know what to do with myself. As her memory recedes more and more, I want to hold onto my own.
At the time of filming, Sir Frank was in the throes of selling Westfield Corporation, the property behemoth he founded with business partner John Saunders, for $33 billion. In a remark that is telling of his relationship with Lady Lowy, he says: Where will I be without the company? It would have been nice to discuss this matter with my wife, but its not possible.
Lady Lowy is survived by Sir Frank, David, Peter, Steven, Margo and Judy Lowy, their 11 grandchildren, their partners and seven great grandchildren.
Shirley Lowy, who died in Tel Aviv at the age of 86 on December 9, was dedicated to her role as wife and mother and believed in traditional marriage.
