Dobree, Audrey Stewart
(nee: Macarthur)
Sgt. RCAF (Retired)
Born in Saskatoon, Sask., September 20, 1919. Raised in Winnipeg, Manitoba. Predeceased by parents, John and Helen (Fowler) Macarthur; husband Rod Dobree and daughter Diann Richardson. Survived by sisters Elizabeth Douglas and Barbara Wilson and their families; daughters Barbara Dobree and Jane Dobree, son-in-laws, Jack and Mike Richardson and grandchildren Terri Ingram, Tracy and Luke Richardson; Kenny and Heidi Richardson.
Audrey’s career in the military started when her and a fellow co-worker at the CPR decided to join the RCAF one lunch hour in 1943. Audrey travelled to various remote locations with the RCAF including Alliford Bay on the Queen Charlotte Islands and Trenton, ON, where she met her husband Rod. Further postings took them to Gimli, Manitoba; Kamloops, B.C.; Calgary, AB; and finally to Comox, B.C. in 1963. When Rod died suddenly in 1964, Audrey was left to care for her three daughters aged 16, 9 and 4 years of age. To support her family Audrey took a job as a clerk-librarian at Arden Elementary in Courtenay where she worked until her retirement in 1983.
Audrey was always willing to take a crack at almost anything. Her hobbies included, knitting, stained glass, cross stitch, mah-jong and deciphering her various technological gadgets (computer, digital camera) of which she always referred to as “Granny’s new toys”. Audrey’s retirement also took her to places such as Africa, China and the Antarctica besides cycling in Australia and New Zealand. She always returned from each trip with souvenir t-shirts for her grandchildren!
As she always liked to get things done right away, she died of ovarian cancer 2 weeks after being admitted to St. Joseph’s Hospital. True to herself, Audrey kept her sense of humour right to the end. Her family wishes to thank all her friends who came to visit her and have offered support. If desired, donations may be sent in her name to:
National Ovarian Cancer Association
27 Park Road, Toronto, ON M4W 2N2
or via www.ovariancanada.org
Graveside service to be held at the Courtenay Cemetery at the top of Mission Hill on Friday, January 27th at 11:00am. Then to the Comox Legion for a luncheon at 12:30 pm. All welcome.