Farewell to our oldest Jew

AUSTRALIA’S oldest Jew Mary Rothstein died in her sleep on Tuesday, aged 110.

Born in Russia on February 27, 1901, Mary grew up in England, where she ran her own millinery business making hats for the royal family, before immigrating to Australia in 1958. More recently, Victoria’s oldest woman lived at Jewish Care’s Gary Smorgon House where she remained active and coherent, enjoying regular bingo and word games.

Daughter Ruth Cavallaro credited her mother’s longevity to her active life.

Following her mother’s death this week, Cavallaro told media: “She was a wonderful mother, very good to her grandchildren and loved her great-grandchildren.”

Mary is survived by her daughter, two grandchildren and six great-grandchildren. She is believed to have been the second- oldest Australian and second-oldest Jew in the world.