Audrey Nash says she is glad her son's abuser died in jail but "it doesn't take anything away".
Ms Nash, 96, is the mother of Andrew Nash, the youngest clerical abuse victim to die by suicide in Australia.
He was abused at the hands of Francis Cable, known in the Maitland-Newcastle Diocese as Brother Romuald.
Brother Romuald was 90 when he died in prison on Monday while serving a 16-year sentence for abusing 24 boys.
Andrew Nash was 13 when he took his life in his bedroom in October 1974.
"I am still left without Andrew and he will never be back," Mrs Nash said.
"Our family, and all the drama and trauma that we've had since Andrew's death, it's still there every day.
"It makes no difference whatsoever, but I'm glad he didn't get out of jail."
Andrew's brother, Geoffrey Nash, said Brother Romuald destroyed the lives of many.
"It's not just the children that he raped and tortured and abused, but then those children all had brothers and sisters and mums and dads and uncles and aunts that are affected," Geoffrey said.
He said some of his friends had taken their lives in the past few years.
"One took his own life and he has children and grandchildren, so now they're all going to suffer," Geoffrey said.
One of Andrew and Geoffrey's friends, Stephen Murray, said the impact of Brother Romuald on his life was significant and long-running.
""People like us have that trauma, they have Romuald hard-wired into our brains," he said.
Marist apology
The Marist Brothers' Province of Australia says it recognises the abuse committed by Francis Cable, and the consequences of the crimes for victims.
"To those who suffered as a result of his criminal actions, the Marist Brothers offer our unreserved apology and express our profound sorrow that such events ever occurred," it said in a statement.
"We will continue to work to support and provide assistance to those who have experienced abuse in our facilities."
Geoffrey Nash said the apology was hollow.
"The statement does not refer to him by the name he was known as, Brother Romuald, and instead refers to him as Francis Cable," he said.
"There is a disconnect in relation to the statement and no budget to help people or phone number to access support.
"The information is just the bare the minimum."
