COWARD, Audrey Rayma (nee Briffett)– Audrey passed away at St. Joseph's Hospital in Toronto at the age of 66 on November 6th, 2010 from infection related complications.
She was born in Glovertown, Newfoundland in 1944. The eldest of four children, Audrey earned a degree in Arts and Education from Memorial University in 1967 and began her career as a teacher. She left Newfoundland in 1968, lived and worked throughout Atlantic Canada before moving to Toronto in 1980.
A life-long learner, she earned a postgraduate certificate in Human Resources Management from Seneca College in 1982 , and Masters of Science in Organizational Development from the American University in Washington, D.C. in 1994.
Audrey made an impact in every phase of her career which included roles as Teacher, Operations Manager for a printing company, Human Resources Director, Coach and Management Consultant. She was an accomplished creative writer with her most recent short stories published in Trees Running Backwards. She was an active member of the Open Space Institute of Canada and The Association for Creative Change in Organization Renewal and Development.
Audrey was a voracious reader and both a student and a teacher of human and organizational development. Her combination of curiosity, insight and empathy allowed her to connect with her family, friends and associates at the deepest level. She was able to encourage and inspire many of us to stretch beyond our normal boundaries.
Audrey is survived by her husband William (Bill) J. Coward, her son, Neil, her father Eric Briffett ( age 94), her father-in-law Joshua Coward ( age 96), her sister Eliza and her brothers Philip and Derek Briffett. Audrey's mother Blanche Marie Briffett (nee Butt) predeceased her.
Friends will be received at the Ridley Funeral Home, 3080 Lake Shore Blvd. W.(between Islington & Kipling Aves.) 416-259-3705 on Saturday November 13, 2010 from 1 to 2 pm. A Celebration of Life will be held at 2 pm in the Chapel, with a reception to follow.
Visitation will be held in Glovertown, Newfoundland from 2 to 4 PM and 7 to 9 PM at Oram's Funeral Home on Friday November 19th. A Celebration of Life will be held at Faith United on Saturday, November 20th at 11 AM.
Donations in Audrey's honour may be made to the Canadian Mental Health Association or its local branches. Messages of Condolence may be placed at www.oramsfuneralhomes.com.