Beloved owner of popular café in Australia suddenly dies

Tributes are pouring in for a much-loved café owner and mother-of-two who locals describe as a ‘beautiful soul’. 

Lizelle Viljoen, who along with husband TJ Viljoen owns the popular Pasture of Balmoral café which overlooks family-friendly Balmoral Beach in the northern Sydney suburb of Mosman, passed away on Monday after succumbing to bone cancer.

Michela Crispino, who is the general manager of that café plus the couple’s recently opened second venue Pasture of Kirribilli – also in north Sydney – said Ms Viljoen treated her ‘like a daughter’.   

‘I have known her for six years since I moved to Australia,’ Ms Crispino told Daily Mail Australia on Tuesday.

‘When I moved into the restaurant the first day they opened she was there with open arms.  

‘She was always smiling, she always had kind words for everyone, for all our staff, all our customers, so everyone knew her since the first day we opened.

‘She was an angel, she was always calm, she always treated me like another daughter.’

Ms Crispino, who is better known to locals by her nickname of Mika, said messages were coming in from around the world from those who had worked at the café saying it was ‘a privilege to work with her’.   

‘Most of the staff of Balmoral are the same since we opened,’ Ms Crispino said. 

‘It’s more like a family restaurant. Customers are coming and asking about her and everyone is crying, everyone is sad for the loss, It’s a hard time for everyone at the moment.

‘They (the owners) are special for us. They would always be here for us, they always take care of all the staff.’ 

Ms Crispino said Ms Viljoen had been battling cancer for a few years.

‘She did really well until December and then in January, she got really sick again,’ Ms Crispino said.  

‘She always kept doing everything, she always came in the café, always with a kind word.’

Ms Viljoen’s last hours were spent surrounded by family. 

‘She was in peace,’  Ms Crispino said.

‘I saw her on the Friday because she asked to see me.

‘Her first words to me were ‘thank you Mika and please say thank you to all the staff at Balmoral and Kirribilli’.’ 

Ms Viljoen and her husband moved to Australia from the South African city of Johannesburg in 2009. 

After working as a teacher for the Northern Beaches Christian School in north Sydney, Ms Viljoen convinced her husband, who was a CEO for the Australia-Pacific region of a global company, it was time to make a life change. 

‘Lizelle was worried that I was burning out in the corporate world,’ TJ told Mosman Living in 2019.

‘So after a lot of soul searching I decided to change things up and we threw ourselves headlong into the equally challenging world of hospitality!’ 

It was the fulfilment of dream the couple had when they first set eyes on Balmoral Beach, where Mr Viljoen spied the café on The Esplanade and mused he would like to open something similar.

A decade later the couple took over the venue from the La Repubblica. 

 ‘We always had this vision to create a sustainable restaurant that works with local producers and suppliers,’ Ms Viljoen told Beanscene magazine in 2022.

‘Human connection is one of the most important things in life, and hospitality really allows you to create these relationships.’

Pasture of Balmoral put out a statement on social media to announce Ms Viljoen’s death. 

‘It is with profound sadness that we announce the passing of our beloved Lizelle,’ the post said.

‘Lizelle was not just a pillar of our restaurant; she was the heart and soul of our community. Her radiant smile, kind words, and genuine warmth touched everyone who had the pleasure of meeting her.

‘Her spirit and love for life will continue to inspire us all.

‘Lizelle, you will forever remain in our hearts and be deeply missed by the entire Pasture team and all who knew you.’

Regulars at the café added their condolences and tributes. 

‘She was such a lovely human being and brought life and light everywhere she went. God bless you all,’ one tribute said.

‘God comfort everyone’s heart in this moment. God bless you all, Amen,’ wrote another.

‘So so sorry for your loss. What a beautiful soul,’ another comment read.

Ms Viljoen is survived by two adult daughters and also twin grandchildren.  

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