A Tribute to Mary Caser

Mary Caser was born in 1934 in Gertrude St Fitzroy, shortly after her parents had immigrated to Australia from Italy, prior to World War II. With very little resources, her family forged a new life with grit and determination – values that she eventually passed on to her two children. 

At age 90, following a 10-year battle with Alzheimer’s disease, Mary passed away peacefully at Maroondah Hospital following a 7 year stay at Vermont Aged Care, both in Melbourne’s East. 

She was admired and adored by her two children, Edward Caser and his sister Cristina.

At the memorial service, son Ed – an Ambassador for the Centre for Healthy Brain Ageing (CHeBA) – reflected on his mum’s legacy for himself and Cristina. “Perhaps the best way to judge a parent is by the type of person their children become,” says Ed. “If Cristina and I are a reflection of Mum, then job well done.” 

As Edward began forging his career in the competitive world of finance, he reflected,  “I found myself drawing on Mum’s incremental life lessons, she didn’t set me down and spell them out, this was mostly through observation but also listening”, says Caser. “She may have only been 5’4 but she filled me with inspiration from both her family’s incredibly tough early years where they smiled and pushed through any adversity, but also mum’s resilience and fortitude after raising my sister and I largely by herself after dad passed away in 1990”.

“To witness her changing behaviour, decline and eventual move in to aged care was undeniably challenging for all of us. From the first noticeable moment 12 years ago where mum asked where her golf clubs were - having not played golf for 60 years - to more recently the decline in her appetite, mobility and overall wellbeing, it’s a heartbreaking experience,” he said.

His mother’s diagnosis was the catalyst for Ed to become an active Ambassador for CHeBA, and now represents CHeBA’s Change Makers – Next Gen Philanthropy initiative, driving the next generation to support medical research into dementia for a brighter future in ageing.

Chair of CHeBA’s Advisory Committee, Ita Buttrose, who Mary met in 2017 at A High Tea to Remember organised by Alzheimer’s Australia (now Dementia Australia) at The Hotel Windsor in Melbourne, extended her condolences to the family. 

Mary’s family and friends said their loving goodbyes on Thursday, 5th September, at Le Pine Chapel in Healesville, Victoria. 

Ed, who cared for his mother at home during the COVID pandemic, takes comfort in his deep loss by knowing that her life lessons and characteristics will stay with him as he continues in business and in life.  

With 57 million people worldwide living with dementia and close to 250 Australians diagnosed every day, Ed said he is proud to support CHeBA’s work into the prevention, early detection and earlier intervention of Alzheimer’s disease and other dementias and is a passionate supporter of advocating for more attention given to research.

Knowledge on how to prevent dementia is fundamental to the future of this nation and it requires significant investment.

Mary Caser passed away on 22nd August 2024 and her funeral was held on Thursday, 5th September 2024 at Le Pine Chapel, Healesville. CHeBA’s Co-Directors Professor Henry Brodaty and Professor Perminder Sachdev extend their deepest condolences and thanks to the Caser family for their support of CHeBA’s research.