Audrey Josephine Rosemarie Wickham (nee Brown)

It is with sadness that our family announces the passing of our loving Mother, Grandmother and Great Grandmother, Audrey Josephine Rosemarie Wickham, in Ancaster, ON in her 96th year. Mom had been in declining health for several years and passed quietly and gently. We remember her fondly and miss her deeply.

Predeceased by her loving husband of 53 years - Frederick William Wickham

(2004) - Audrey leaves behind a legacy of 4 children: Dan (Christine Halliday) of Algonquin Highlands, ON, Bart (Peggy) of St. George, ON, Debbie Ciufo (Sergio) of Stoney Creek, ON and Trevor (Laura Loucks) of Tofino, BC; 9 Grandchildren: Todd (Berna Badenhorst), Cory (Aileen Latour), Jaime (Rob Schnider), Bartley (Katie), Sonny (Danielle Hulan), Dustin, Carly (Gerjan Altenberg), Lilli and Eva; and 9 Great Grandchildren: Jessie, Rylyn, Zoe, Kamryn, Isabelle, Maggie, Devon, Taylor and Leonardo.

Whether answering to Audrey, Aud, “AJ”, “Mother-hen”, Mom, Auntie Audrey or Grandma - she loved and supported each family member unconditionally with a tireless tenacity. Mom was the best listener, always focused on the positive, full of gratitude, strong-willed, kind-hearted, principled, fiercely loyal, and forever ready to lend a shoulder, provide sage advice or hold-a-hand. She was among the last of a certain style of women - strong and kind - able to selflessly support and manage their husbands and family - and make it look so easy.

Born in Gull Lake, Saskatchewan in 1926, Audrey was the only child of Stanley Charles Brown and Rosalie Josephine Brown (nee Steigel). Mom lived for a time with her Aunt Regina ‘Gig’ and Uncle Bill on a farm in Ceylon, SK until her family moved to Winnipeg in the late-1930s. Audrey graduated from Daniel McIntyre Collegiate Institute in 1944. Mom trained as a stenographer and soon found work in Veterans Affairs and, later the Department of Agriculture at the Federal Building in downtown Winnipeg. It was during these post-War years that Mom developed her passion for travel. Mom loved recounting stories and sharing B&W photos of herself and glamorously-dressed girlfriends travelling via train to Vancouver, Toronto and Minneapolis among other destinations.

A chance date in 1950 with a handsome widower (father of two young sons, Dan and Bart) and former WWII RCAF Lancaster pilot, Fred Wickham, who also worked at the Federal Building in Winnipeg, lead to a proposal and their marriage in June 1951. Their marriage lasted over 5-decades.

If Audrey ever felt overwhelmed by the daily responsibilities of being an ‘instantMom’, she rarely showed it. By the early 60’s, Audrey and Fred had two more children (Debbie and Trevor), moved house three times and chose #26 in Toronto’s west-end suburb of Etobicoke, as their forever home.

In the 40+ years that followed, Mom and Dad hosted countless gatherings of family, neighbours, work-colleagues and out-of-town guests for dinners, backyard BBQs, and weekly kitchen table drinks/chats to celebrate life’s events, home-comings and family achievements. Setting a table for 14 or 16 or more never seemed to faze Mom - there was always room at their table.

In the same way Audrey selflessly served her family and friends - Mom also gave to her community. Quietly, weekly, for over 35 years, as a member of the Women’s Hospital Auxiliary, Mom volunteered at both the Humber Memorial and Etobicoke General Hospitals’ Gift Shops.

While Audrey proudly loved the home she and Dad made, her love of travel and visiting her children and grandchildren persisted well into her 80s. As well as regularly criss-crossing Canada from east to west to maintain contact with family and friends, together they explored multiple destinations in the Americas, Asia, Europe and the South Pacific. Whether enjoying the pleasures of fine dining and dancing with Dad on an Alaskan cruise or riding on a water buffalo in the rice fields of Bali, Mom was always up for an adventure!

Thanks Mom - each of us love and owe you so much. You’re an angel, and we are all better people for the privilege of sharing in the times and joys of your life!

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At a date yet to be determined Mom and Dad will be laid to rest together at the Riverside Cemetery in Etobicoke. Anyone wishing to honour Mom is encouraged to make a donation to the Toronto Star Santa Claus Fund.

The Wickham Family would like to express their thanks and gratitude to all the staff, administrators, nurses and physicians associated with The Meadows Long Term Care Home in Ancaster, ON - thank you for taking such good care of our Mom.

God, grant me the serenity to accept the things I cannot change,

Courage to change the things I can,

And the wisdom to know the difference.

Reinhold Niebuhr