90 Day Fiancé star Elizabeth Castravet has opened up about the deep emotional impact following the passing of her father, Chuck Potthast.

On Saturday, November 29, Elizabeth, aged 35, turned to Instagram to share her feelings. Accompanying a video of her, her husband Andrei Castravet, and their two children enjoying a serene moment in a field, she expressed her struggle with grief. “Dealing with grief has been one of the hardest things I’ve faced. Andrei and I are dedicated to keeping our children happy and maintaining their routines. Yet, I often find myself feeling guilty even as I attempt to engage in our typical activities,” she shared. “I try to smile and move forward, but deep down, I’m really hurting.”

Elizabeth also sought support from her followers, inviting them to suggest coping strategies. When a fan mentioned being in shock for a year after losing her father, Elizabeth admitted, “I am in shock still too, that is true.”

Chuck, who was a familiar face on the TLC series alongside Elizabeth and her extended family, passed away the previous month. Elizabeth and Andrei, 39, broke the news on Instagram on November 23. “Two weeks ago, our family was hit by a tragedy that left us utterly devastated. My sweet, loving, and caring dad went to heaven. We are trying to figure out how to navigate our lives and move forward without him,” they shared. Married since 2017, the couple has a daughter, Eleanor, and a son, Winston. They requested privacy during this profoundly challenging time.

In a lighter moment, Andrei recently quipped to Us Weekly about his wife’s family, comparing them to a “cult” while promoting their show. “We should put you on an escape-a-cult-type of franchise,” he joked. Despite his teasing, Andrei expressed his happiness about having Elizabeth by his side.

Elizabeth engaged with several fans who commented on her most recent post, telling one who suggested that she “put together photo albums with his photos in it” that it was “a good idea.”

Another fan suggested that Elizabeth turn to “trusting that he is in a better place,” to which she responded, “Yes.”

Two days after Elizabeth and Andrei’s announcement was posted, Andrei shared his own tribute to his late father-in-law. “It’s been incredibly, incredibly tough for us,” Andrei told the camera in a video shared via Instagram on Tuesday, November 25. “I know there’s been drama, tensions and story lines over the years, but what people saw on TV is just a tiny portion of our real relationship. What I can say is Chuck genuinely loved filming. He loved the energy, he loved the excitement, he really did. The connection of all of us … he loved people in general.”

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During Chuck’s time on the series, which premiered in January 2014 and followed international characters marrying American partners and navigating the process within the required 90-day visa timeframe, he and Andrei rarely saw eye to eye.

It was a magnet for drama on the show, which Andrei acknowledged in his tribute. “Some of my best memories are just off camera when we’re laughing and talking and joking about how we’re fighting on TV, while we’re, in real life, getting along … just like best pals,” he said. “That’s how I’m going to remember him.”

Andrei continued, “I want to make this clear that all the rumors and the clickbait going around right now are just lies. When it comes to what actually happened, I’ll speak about it later in a respectful way. For now, I just want to honor him. There’s a lot more to say to this … about our real connection and the truth behind everything. Rest in peace, Chuck.”