A few days ago, a very special lady died. Her death came as no surprise. She was 87 years old and had been in poor health for several years.
I met Audrey shortly after I began researching my father's family. Her grandfather and my great grandfather had been brothers, making her my 2nd cousin once removed. I found a message posted on Genforum by her niece. I recognized the ancestor and his hometown as the possible brother of my great grandfather so replied to the post. Much to my joy, we were cousins!
Only living about 40 miles or so apart, the niece and I decided to get together and meet in person. The following Saturday, Audrey and her niece and my dad and I met at the ice cream stand down the road from my great aunt's house. I'll never forget her first words she said to us, "Do you like to fish?"
We proceeded to go to my great aunt's, where we spend the afternoon getting acquainted and swapping family stories. Audrey and my great aunt, Marge reminisced. They remembered each other from their childhoods. We had a great day and we all became close friends as well as cousins.
I continued to visit her up until a few years ago when her memory had faded away to the point where she probably wouldn't known me anymore. I would pick her up and off we'd go for the day. She introduced me to many relatives from her branch of the family and told me everything she could remember about our ancestors and relatives.
Audrey was an intelligent lady with that Carder sense of humor and other family traits that I could see in her. It was with sadness and sympathy for her children and grandchildren that I read her obituary in the newspaper. She will be missed. May you rest in peace, Audrey, and know you were loved.
I met Audrey shortly after I began researching my father's family. Her grandfather and my great grandfather had been brothers, making her my 2nd cousin once removed. I found a message posted on Genforum by her niece. I recognized the ancestor and his hometown as the possible brother of my great grandfather so replied to the post. Much to my joy, we were cousins!
Only living about 40 miles or so apart, the niece and I decided to get together and meet in person. The following Saturday, Audrey and her niece and my dad and I met at the ice cream stand down the road from my great aunt's house. I'll never forget her first words she said to us, "Do you like to fish?"
We proceeded to go to my great aunt's, where we spend the afternoon getting acquainted and swapping family stories. Audrey and my great aunt, Marge reminisced. They remembered each other from their childhoods. We had a great day and we all became close friends as well as cousins.
I continued to visit her up until a few years ago when her memory had faded away to the point where she probably wouldn't known me anymore. I would pick her up and off we'd go for the day. She introduced me to many relatives from her branch of the family and told me everything she could remember about our ancestors and relatives.
Audrey was an intelligent lady with that Carder sense of humor and other family traits that I could see in her. It was with sadness and sympathy for her children and grandchildren that I read her obituary in the newspaper. She will be missed. May you rest in peace, Audrey, and know you were loved.
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