“A post feels inadequate to encapsulate the life and passing of my mother-in-law, who left us this week, but I want to share a few memories of her,” Leila wrote.

The Channel Nine star, 53, shared a deeply personal tribute to Instagram on Saturday honouring the extraordinary woman, alongside a gallery of intimate family images. 

In the touching caption, Leila, who is married to former Nine executive David Gyngell, described Ann as ‘kind, loving and supportive’.

‘A post seems too small a way to mark the life and death of my mother-in-law, who died this week, but I’d like to share just a few things about her here,’ Leila began.

She revealed that Ann lived her life in vibrant colour, both literally and creatively.

‘Ann saw everything in colour, even the days of the week, each had their own shade,’ Leila wrote, adding that Ann brought that passion into Australian homes through her celebrated work as an interior designer.

Leila McKinnon has revealed the heartbreaking loss of her mother-in-law, Ann Gyngell

The Channel Nine star, 53, shared a deeply personal tribute to Instagram on Saturday honouring the extraordinary woman, alongside a gallery of intimate family images 

She was later inducted into the Design Institute of Australia Hall of Fame for her contribution to the industry.

Ann’s early life was equally extraordinary.

‘As a six-year-old she was evacuated from Singapore during a storm and survived a risky voyage under Japanese attack to make it to Sydney… a place with which she immediately fell in love,’ Leila shared.

Her glamour extended into adulthood, with Leila revealing that during a trip to Sydney, legendary couturier Pierre Balmain invited Ann to model for him in Paris.

She also forged a friendship with Hollywood icon Marlene Dietrich.

The Hollywood icon famously bathed Leila’s husband in Sydney when he was just a child in the mid-60s.

‘In later life she was a talented artist, who gave back to the community as a volunteer art teacher at the Wayside Chapel,’ Leila added.

The final images in Leila’s post showed Ann embracing her grandchildren with a warm smile. 

In the touching caption, Leila, who is married to former Nine executive David Gyngell, described Anna as ‘kind, loving and supportive’ 

‘A post seems too small a way to mark the life and death of my mother-in-law, who died this week, but I’d like to share just a few things about her here,’ Leila began 

‘To me, she was a kind, loving, supportive mother-in-law, a dear friend, and a wonderful grandmother to my children… 

‘She will be dearly missed by us all. Vale beautiful Ann.’

Leila married media executive David Gyngell in 2004 during a private ceremony attended by close friends and family.

The couple went on to welcome two children together: son Ted and daughter Gwendolen.