With great sadness we announce the peaceful passing of Audrey Armstrong on December 29, 2021, at the age of 94, surrounded by her family, caregivers and doctor.
Audrey was pre-deceased in 2019 by her husband of 71 years Arnold (“Arnie”) Armstrong and is survived by her loving children Nora (Tim), Bradley (Catherine), Michael (Linda) and Caron (Percy), and grandchildren Andrew (Emily), Arthur (Kimberly), Christopher, Claire (Devan), Darcy (Alex), Madeleine, David (Sam), and Robbie, and seven great grandchildren Abigail, Chloe, Grayson, Sophie, Aurelia, Charlie and Simon.
Audrey was proud to have been born in McBride BC in 1927, to parents Eileen (nee Byers) and Ralph Veale. She had three full siblings, Leslie, Cyril (Bud), and Elizabeth (Betty), all of whom pre-deceased her, and second-family siblings Bruce (deceased) (Bev), Marguerite (deceased), Saundra, Eric (Dona), Clayton (Virginia), Noni (Dan) and Tex, and many nieces and nephews.
Audrey grew up during the Depression in Vancouver. She met Arnold as a 14-year-old in 1941. They later had a first date at the Aristocratic Restaurant, married in 1947, and remained devoted to each other for over 71 years.
In the early years, her income as a clerk with the Bank of Montreal helped Arnold through law school and helped launch his successful career as a lawyer and businessman. Audrey then became a consummate mother and grandmother, and the best and most constant cheerleader for all of us. After singularly devoting her time to her children through to their young adulthood, she branched out into her own business endeavours, including establishment of an antiques shop on the old RobsonStrasse, and later the highly successful and long-lived Act 1 Theatrical Makeup and Dance Supplies shop on Robson at Seymour with her long-time employee then partner Michelle Monrufet.
Audrey will be sorely missed by all of us. A celebration of her life will be held once current restrictions are eased. In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to the BC Women’s Hospital (formerly Grace Hospital).