Cherryl Barassi, widow of AFL great Ron, dies peacefully at home

2 months ago 18

Cherryl Barassi was a writer, an animal lover, an environmentalist and a fierce advocate for going on your own terms. The AFL legend’s wife loved her husband, Ron, her family and her life, but spoke openly about dying with dignity.

On Tuesday, she passed away peacefully at her St Kilda home, “as she wished”, her family said.

Cherryl Barassi supported many social justice causes.

“Cherryl was an accomplished artist and a fine writer,” the family said in a statement. “An animal lover and passionate environmentalist, she was a tireless and vocal supporter of many social justice causes to make the world a kinder, better place.”

“I was blessed with the best stepmother a stepchild could wish for. A funny, generous, intelligent, straight-talking woman, who was always there for us,” her stepson Ron said.

“The family requests privacy during this time.”

Speaking to this masthead in June last year, Barassi opened up about her feelings about death following the loss in 2023 of her husband, Ron, an AFL coaching great and champion player who was remembered as one of the game’s most important postwar figures.

Cherryl and Ron Barassi at home in 2005.

She did not qualify for help under Victoria’s voluntary assisted dying laws, but weeks out from her 80th year, she set up a comfortable bed in her bathroom, took an overdose of medication and left a farewell note with clear instructions to let her die.

“In case it is comforting to anyone,” she said at the time, “they should know that I felt positive and grateful for the life I’ve had as I put myself off to sleep.”

Missing the note, a neighbour found her unconscious and called an ambulance. She woke up in a hospital bed the next day.

Barassi shared her story last year in the hopes of sparking conversation about law reform for voluntary euthanasia after her husband, she said, died an unnecessarily slow and painful death.