Models Jessica, Ash Hart mourn the sudden death of mother Rae

Melbourne supermodels Jess and Ash Hart are mourning the sudden loss of their beloved mother.

Models Jessica and Ash Hart are mourning the sudden death of their ‘rock’ and mother Rae.

Model sisters Jess and Ash Hart are grieving the loss of their beloved mother who died on Friday morning.

The Hart sisters had quietly relocated back to Melbourne late last year following their mother Rae’s heartbreaking motor neurone disease diagnosis.

Supermodel Jessica Hart told the Herald Sun she had moved back to her Melbourne homeland “indefinitely” to look after their mother Rae.

Hart said her two children and husband, former NASCAR driver James Kirkham would also be living in Australia as she supported her beloved mum.

Rae Hart, 66, sudden death on Friday from the rare degenerative condition that damages the nervous system and causes rapidly progressive muscle weakness has come as a shock.

The Hart sisters quietly relocated back to Melbourne to take care of their mother.

Some 1400 Australians are living with MND, including former Melbourne Football Club coach Neale Daniher who has been raising funds to find a cure.

Jess and sister Ash returned last year to help Rae, a much loved former Rudolph Steiner teacher, through her medical treatment as her health quickly declined.

The Hart sisters have long credited their mother as their rock and ongoing support as they rose to fame, with the trio sharing an incredible bond.

Rae raised her daughters as a single mum.

In 2015 the model sisters told 60 Minutes their mother brought them up as a single mum, moving from rental home to rental home as she navigated life after a difficult marriage.

The closely-knit sisters said Rae never made them feel as if they were “going without.”

“She deserves a medal, she actually said that herself,” Ashley said.

Rae told 60 Minutes she brought her girls up believing that if they had each other, fresh sheets, food in the fridge and a hot shower, they were doing all right.

Jess started in the modelling industry at 14 years old when she was discovered at a local shopping centre as part of the Dolly magazine competition.

The 36-year-old went on to become one of the world’s most sought after models, working for Victoria’s Secret, appearing in countless Vogue and magazine covers and later founding her own line LUMABeauty.

Sister Ashley, 34, also found fame with her winning smile and easy going attitude and lifestyle, becoming a Swisse ambassador and later a yogi master.

The sisters have long been credited for their resilience, loyalty and reputation in an often fickle industry.

Jess and husband Kirkham, named their first child, daughter Baby-Rae after her mother.

Their son, Glorious, was born in February last year.