The wife of former foreign minister and NSW premier Bob Carr has been farewelled at Sydney’s St Mary’s Cathedral after dying in her husband’s arms.
Helena Carr, 77, died last month after losing consciousness as a result of a brain aneurysm while on a trip with her husband to the Austrian capital, Vienna.
In his eulogy, Mr Carr said the death of his beloved ‘H’ still felt raw and described his final moments with his wife of 50 years.
‘We seemed to be at peace in our 50-year partnership. We accepted without admitting it that our time would not be forever,’ he said.
Helena Carr, wife of former foreign minister and NSW premier Bob Carr has been farewelled at Sydney’s St Mary’s Cathedral after dying in her husband’s arms (the couple are pictured)
Bob Carr is seen arriving at the funeral service for his wife, who died in his arms in October
Mr Carr (centre) is seen leaving the service for his late wife Helena flanked by former prime minister Paul Keating (left) and his wife Annita van Iersel (right)
Bob Carr hugs former Victorian Premier Steve Bracks and his wife Terry following the service
The former NSW premier embraced Labor Senator Deborah O’Neill after farewelling his wife
Broadcaster Alan Jones is seen arriving at the service at St Mary’s Cathedral in Sydney
The ex-wife of Prime Minister Anthony Albanese, Carmel Tebbutt – a former deputy premier of NSW – arrives at the funeral service for Helena Carr
Former prime minister Malcolm Turnbull and his wife Lucy were seen arriving at the service
NSW Premier Chris Minns attended the service accompanied by his wife Anna on Tuesday
‘We were in a resting place that meant we were happy to see the other one happy. No partner could have smiled more than she did.
‘As we walked across Vienna having fun on that last day, that was where our 50-year journey had taken us: to a kind of calmness and wisdom where it ended so suddenly, so cruelly cut off.
‘We are such stuff that dreams are made of, and our light rounded off with a sleep.
‘That left me to say, my friend, as co-conspirator in this half-century collaboration, thank you are my lucky star, my little friend.’
Mr Carr described his wife as someone who not only fitted in well with domestic and foreign leaders but was an accomplished businesswoman in her own right.
Born in Malaysia, Mrs Carr was involved in a number of businesses before in 1984 taking over the security division producing postage stamps at Post.
Mr Carr described how his wife helped him secure successive terms in government, including being in s for Labor.
Helena Carr, 77, was declared dead earlier this year after losing consciousness as a result of a brain aneurysm while in the Austrian capital, Vienna (she is pictured with husband Bob Carr)
In his eulogy on Tuesday, Mr Carr said the death of his beloved ‘H’ was still raw and described his final moments overseas with his wife of 50 years (the couple are pictured)
Bob and Helena Carr were holidaying in Vienna when she suffered a fatal brain aneurysm
Mr Carr is seen shaking the hand of NSW Attorney General Michael Daley following the service
Former NSW Labor MP Barrie Unsworth and his wife Pauline farewelled Bob Carr’s late wife
Sydney City Lord Mayor Clover Moore was among a string of high-profile attendees
Former NSW Premier Morris Iemma was supported by a single crutch as he entered the service
Former Victorian Premier Steve Bracks (left) was also seen arriving to St Mary’s Cathedral
Current and former political leaders, including NSW Premier Chris Minns and deputy premier Prue Car (pictured), were in attendance at the service
‘In our marriage, she was the CEO, CFO, the chief strategist and the financial planner – which left me to be the entertainment director,’ he said.
‘She loved the play, the humour, the personality of politics. She got to know my colleagues … All this was part of the human comedy that fit her smiles.’
Mr Carr also revealed how, in 1971, after watching a film, his wife said he was her ‘lucky star’.
But he told the mourners yesterday said she had gotten it the ‘wrong way round’.
‘You are my lucky star … to this day, its’ my most beautiful compliment I have ever received, that this angel took a bet on me,’ Mr Carr said.
‘You’re a very astute mob, our friends in this cathedral. You know she got it the wrong way around … Helena was Bob’s lucky star.’
Education Minister Jason Clare, on behalf of Prime Minister Anthony Albanese, said Mrs Carr was the ‘steel in Bob’s back’ and ‘whip smart’.
‘I was fortunate to spend a little time with Helena Carr, to know her kindness and her cheekiness … and overflowing goodness,’ Mr Clare said.
‘Helena and Bob were each other’s worlds. Perhaps it’s fitting then the last opera Helena saw in Vienna was the Elixa of Love … A story of real love.’
The requiem mass was presided over by Father Frank Brennan SJ AO, who described Ms Carr as a ‘peacemaker’ who never pushed herself forward.
Current and former political leaders, including NSW Premier Chris Minns and deputy premier Prue Car, were in attendance at the service.
Bob and Helena Carr are pictured arriving at the State Memorial Service for former prime minister Bob Hawke at the Sydney Opera House in 2019
Bob Carr and wife Helena are pictured at Parliament House in Canberra in October 2013
Former NSW ministers Brad Hazzard (left) and Carl Scully (right) attended the service
NSW Transport Minister Jo Haylen (pictured) was another high-profile politician in attendance
NSW Treasurer Daniel Mookey is seen arriving at the service for Bob Carr’s late wife
Former Opposition Leader Jodi McKay wore black to the service at St Mary’s Cathedral
Former prime ministers Malcolm Turnbull and Paul Keating were also present, as was federal Environment Minister Tanya Plibersek.
Following Ms Carr’s death in September, Mr Carr issued a heartfelt statement in which he described her as the ‘light of my life’ and ‘little friend’.
‘On Thursday we walked in autumn weather through Vienna, had lunch with two n friends, walked some more and went to the opera,’ he said.
‘She was full of zest and jokes as we walked back to our hotel … Within 20 minutes she referred to strange back pain, then a headache and nausea.
‘Our 50-year partnership ended in the hotel bathroom when she sunk into my arms … Her eyes closed for the last time while I begged her not to leave me.’
Ms Carr was born in Malaysia before emigrating to to study economics at The University of Sydney. The pair met in Tahiti in 1971.
Mr Carr, NSW’s longest-serving premier, was on a stopover from the US at the time. He said his reason to go on was ‘for her’.