The Victorian town of Benalla is in shock, mourning the loss of a mother and daughter who have been remembered as "amazingly resilient women".

The week-long search for missing 89-year-old Isabel and 53-year-old Judy Stephens ended in tragedy on Saturday after police found two bodies in bushland 35 kilometres south of Benalla. 

Isabel and Judy, who had an intellectual disability and was insulin-dependent, were last seen leaving the Tatong Tavern after enjoying a light lunch last Sunday. 

They drove away in a white Toyota Yaris.

Almost a week later, amid enormous search effort across the region, the car was spotted by police near Aquila Rise, a dead-end road in Samaria.

Their bodies were found about a kilometre from the car.

Neither of the deaths are being treated as suspicious, police said.

Police have not yet established causes of death and are investigating whether an accident may have occurred.  

The local Benalla community, of which the Stephens family was an active part of for many years, has been devastated by news of the deaths. 

Tributes flowed online, where friends said they would especially miss Judy's hugs. 

One woman wrote online: "Gonna miss you Judy and your love for life, your infectious smile, your non judgmental flair..."

The Carers and Parents Support Group said the "loss of two wonderful, caring and loving ladies" was devastating.

"Isabel & Judy Stephens were amazingly resilient women, their passing is a great loss to our community," a tribute posted online said. 

"Isabel was a founding member of our Carers & Parents Support Group Inc supporting, caring and advocating for many similar situations for over 28 years. They will be both be dearly missed." 

Tatong Tavern owner Chris McCabe said the township was upset at hearing the terrible outcome.

"It's a tragic thing and everybody is disappointed and sad," he said.

Earlier in the week, Isabel's other daughters Helen Stephens and Barbara Walter publicly spoke about the pair's disappearance.

"It's almost like you're in a bad movie and you're going to wake up and everything will be OK," Ms Walter told media on Thursday.

"We just can't get a grip on it at all. They're very ordinary and lead very ordinary sort of routine lives."

Isabel and Judy lived separately in Benalla, with Isabel residing in an independent living unit at Cooinda Village aged care home.