August 4, 1917 – August 29, 2014
This prairie girl was born in Imperial, Saskatchewan and studied music at the University of Saskatchewan. On April Fools’ Day 1942 she married mining engineer Frank Guadagni and relocated to Montreal where Frank founded the Engineering Department at Loyola College. Audrey spent the next 22 years as a faculty wife, the mother of four children, and a mainstay of the Montreal West Horticultural Society. She wrote an annual article (the Clearinghouse) for the Canadian Rose Society on growing roses in the various geographic areas of Canada, compiling the reports sent to her by home rose growers. When the children went off to school each day she spent many uninterrupted hours playing the piano and the violin. Widowed at 47, Audrey worked in administration at Loyola College, Concordia University and the Royal Victoria Hospital in Montreal and then at ComDev in Cambridge, Ontario. At the age of 68, she retired when she married William (Bill) Brisbane and they soon moved to Victoria where Audrey was able to enjoy the extended growing season for her roses. She also took on the position of second violin with the Victoria Civic Orchestra which she held until age 87. When Bill passed away in 2003, Audrey continued to maintain their home (and rose garden!). In 2010 she moved to Amica House Douglas and finally into full care at Island View Place in Victoria where her positive attitude was well appreciated by the staff who gave her such excellent care. She celebrated her 97th birthday there and died peacefully soon after.
Audrey is survived by her four children: Jill (husband Walter, deceased in Dec 2013), Don (wife Pam), Sandy (partner Allan) and Nicky (husband Robin); seven grandchildren: Matthew and Emma Guadagni, Mike and Donny Kitson, and Griffin, Tess and Charlie Benger, and great-granddaughter Sofia Guadagni (parents Matthew and Ani).
She was predeceased by her parents, Gilbert Houson and Alice (nee Coe) Butler Frere, brother Cecil and sister Betty and nephews Reed, Chester and Gordon Buffington.
She is also survived by nieces Leslie and Janet, sister-in-law Grace, step-daughter Sue O'Neill and Sue’s children Rory and Jessica, and many Guadagni, Frere and Buffington nieces, nephews and cousins.
She will be best remembered as leaving no stone unturned in supporting her children in their pursuit of education and the fulfillment of their dreams... and for her great laugh and sense of fun. Truly a life well lived.
Donations in Audrey's memory may be made to Pictou County Roots for Youth Society of New Glasgow, Nova Scotia, which supports young people with shelter and programming to recharge their lives.