Audrey Mabel ADRIAN (Patterson)

Audrey Mabel Adrian (Patterson). 1940 – 2023.

With sorrow we announce the passing of Audrey. She is now resting at peace with her Saviour, Jesus Christ and is reunited with Alf, to whom she was married 62 years.

Audrey leaves behind her children, Yvonne (Tom) Rush, Kathy (Brian) Sugrue, Mike (Denise) Adrian, Darryl (Christine) Adrian, nine grandchildren, and nine great-grandchildren, sisters Mary (Ray) Gresham, Kathleen Hadley, Gwen Patterson (Wil), Roberta Harrison (Stan), sister-in-law Edna Allwright, and many nieces and nephews. Audrey was predeceased by her parents Ted and; Lucy Patterson, Grandmother Esther Pownall and sister Florence, sister-in-law, Alice, brothers Ernie and Bill. We all miss and love you, until we meet again, to be sure.

Audrey was born in Dublin, Ireland at the Rotunda Hospital and immigrated with her family of eight to Canada when she was just shy of 8 years old.

She was quite the daredevil! While crossing the Atlantic Ocean to North America, she decided to walk on the ship’s outer railing. One of her brothers raced over and pulled her down before she fell into the ocean and was lost.

They reached New York, on August 13, 1948. They were photographed as they were the largest family onboard. The photo was published in a local newspaper.

After travelling by train for many days, the family reunited with their father in Calgary. They settled in Claresholm, Alberta and that was where Audrey learned to skate. She loved it and was so good she played “crack-the-whip” with the boys.

After many more moves, the family settled on the Saanich Peninsula and became part of the farming community.

The family went to church every Sunday. Audrey and her sisters were all seated in the back of the truck and always waved at all the young fellows who were following behind. She was dared to wave at the young man behind them (who turned out to be her future husband Alf Adrian) by her sisters and was mortified when he pulled into the Church parking lot and attended the service. Alf asked her for her name and they soon became an item. They were engaged on St. Patrick’s Day and married in August at the Church of the Nazarene.

Audrey always had a strong faith in Jesus and through hardships and joys, trusted Him totally. She had that strong foundation through which she taught her children by her example of kindness, caring, hospitality, and prayer.

She was the centre of the family and was a great mom, cooking and baking delicious things (she was self-taught), tending her flower and vegetable gardens, canning the fruit from the plum and pear trees, in short, she was not afraid to work hard.

Audrey gave with a heart of love to all. She looked for those who were left out and offered them a cup of tea and friendship; making them feel like part of the family. She put others before herself.

She was a proud Grandmother who was always ready to help with new babies and babysitting. She loved her Grandchildren and Great-Grandchildren, proud of their accomplishments, but prouder of who they were as people.

Audrey’s beautiful blue Irish eyes and heart of gold will always be remembered and treasured by all. Til we meet again, dear Audrey…to be sure. We will all miss her and forever love her.