Born and raised in the Twin Cities, Audrey grew up with three sisters and parents Loretta and Ervin. She attended Washington High School and loved it—not because she was a top student, but because she had so much fun. With a tight-knit group of twelve girlfriends (all Girl Scouts), Audrey was far more interested in laughter and friendship than straight A’s.
After high school, Audrey worked briefly as a long-distance telephone operator before becoming a nurse’s aide at St. Joseph’s Hospital. Nursing quickly became her calling. She went on to build a long and varied career, working as a psychiatric nurse and later in long-term care, where she spent her final ten years. She loved working with older adults and says it was a special time to be a nurse back in the day.
At just 19, Audrey fell in love with Bob. Together they raised ten children—nine boys and one girl—all born within just over ten years, including twins. She loved being a mother and says raising ten children in her day felt simpler than raising two does today. Her home was always full, not just with her own kids, but with neighborhood children who needed care, stability, or simply a place to belong. One of those children later attended Audrey’s 50th wedding anniversary and introduced her as “the woman who made me who I am today.”
Creativity has always sustained Audrey. For many years, she was a devoted watercolor painter, even dedicating a second room in her apartment to her art. She loved painting flowers and landscapes and taking classes with friends. Painting, she says, fills her soul with light, color, and life.
Today, Audrey looks forward to friendship—laughing together, sharing stories, and enjoying meaningful conversation with a new companion.
