Isabel and Judy Stephens regularly went out to lunch on a Sunday – but this time, they did not return.
They ate light at the Tatong Tavern on May 21, telling staff they would be eating out for dinner later that day, and left in their Toyota Yaris, found abandoned a week later off Exton Road.
Isabel lived at independent residential aged care facility Cooinda Village and her neighbour, who did not wish to be named, was the last to see Isabel before she left for lunch that Sunday.
“Normally, every Sunday they went out for lunch – she seemed happy,” she said.
“For Isabel, Judy was her life, and Judy loved to come over here and have a chat to me.”
A friend of Isabel’s for the past three years since taking up residence at Cooinda, she knew the 89-year-old well and said they both used to live out near Samaria.
“Sunday they finished up and went for a drive out there …. it’s just terrible,” she said.
“We were good friends, we just put a rose garden in together in the last couple months; there’s all these beautiful memories.”
Judy’s neighbour, Mark Lamb, said they were both well-known and were “lovely people”.
“I last saw her on the Thursday – she would come out the front and always be up for a yack, she was always smiling,” he said.
Mr Lamb said he was shocked by the discovery of their bodies at 4.30pm on Saturday.
“The majority of people thought, being out Tatong way, they must have headed towards Tolmie and gone off the road – it’s dense bushland and deep ravines out there; you wouldn’t get found,” he said.
“It was a real shock they were found out at Samaria.”
Mr Lamb lives next to Uniting Church’s John and Esther Cook Cottages, the home of about nine residents including Judy Stephens, who had an intellectual disability.
“I’m not home a lot, but they’re a good crowd,” he said. “Judy was pretty quiet, but would always say hello.
“Her mum was a lovely person, too – I helped do her blinds and she was well-known around town.
“It’s a small community; on Saturday everybody was talking about it.”
Mr Lamb said his thoughts were with their family, including Judy’s sisters Helen Stephens and Barbara Walter, who made an appeal for information on Thursday.
“They would be gutted, they’ve lost a mother and a sister,” he said.
Tributes for the women have also flowed on social media.
“Devastating news – wonderful ladies and a huge loss for the Benalla community,” wrote John Gebauer, “Will miss you Judy, and our thoughts are with the family and friends”.
“Thank you Judy for being such a beautiful person; my daughter loved your ladybird necklace,” another wrote.
Jess Fulton, who now lives in Melbourne but regularly served Judy at Coles in Benalla, said she couldn’t believe what had happened.
“Me and my sister saw her often – she was very friendly and outgoing,” she said.
“She would talk a lot about her family and was happy where she was.
“It’s just crazy what has happened.”
Police are not expected to reveal any more information about the circumstances surrounding the pair’s death.
A report will be prepared for the coroner.
