AUDREY STUART (MALLINSON)

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AUDREY STUART (nee MALLINSON) July 14, 1922 - January 21, 2014 Sadly on January 21, 2014 Audrey Stuart of Fort Garry passed away at the Health Sciences Centre in Winnipeg at 91 years of age while recovering from surgery. At her side, as always, was her partner George Leger and her children. Audrey had dealt stoically with her medical conditions the past few years while her constant companion, George, made certain she was always cared for and cherished. Audrey was born in Bradford in 1922, considered Leeds her home and graduated from Thoresby School for Girls. During the Second World War, she enlisted in the army with the ATS (Auxiliary Territorial Service) where she was trained to drive ambulances and to teach P.E., which she enjoyed very much. Later she became the Executive Assistant to the Chaplain General stationed in York. Audrey had many stories of this exciting time of her life. She had friends such as Maurice Kaye with whom she enjoyed theatre, dinners, dance parties and horse-riding with friends. Later Maurice became godfather to her first child. Audrey met Jim, a Canadian Lancaster pilot stationed with the RCAF in Scotland and then Yorkshire, on the dance floor, almost certainly to the sounds of Glen Miller. She accepted his marriage proposal that first night and thus began a most happy relationship. Immediately after the war they married in England and she sailed on the Ile de France which took thousands of war brides emigrating to their new lives in Canada. Mum was fortunate to arrive at the lovely home built by Jim's parents called Windy Hill (now Tarrow House ) near St. Andrews on the Red. Fortunately her parents, Jack and Bertha, followed their only child to live in Winnipeg in 1949, by which time Audrey and Jim had started their family. Audrey and Jim had five children with whom they enjoyed their weekend cottage and many wonderful holidays travelling. We were lucky to have had such devoted parents and a great family life. The sudden death of Jim, (James Allan Stuart), at age 50 was a great shock. With most of the children still at home Audrey reinvented herself and became a successful real estate agent for several years. After that she fulfilled a lifelong dream, which she and Jim had shared, of living in England for a year. She and her youngest son Jason lived in England at the time that son Jay was studying in London. When she returned to Winnipeg she became an entrepreneur and ran her own business until she was 75. Her sense of adventure and positive spirit ensured that she developed a fulfilled life by engaging with the opportunities offered by Canada. Audrey and Jim took up many outdoor and athletic activities and sports and she was a keen cross-country skier into her seventies. Audrey was curious about her surroundings, had a vivacious outgoing spirit and was a talented painter, sculptor and writer. She was creative with anything she turned her hand to including drawing in many media, weaving, spinning and many crafts. She was the first health food fanatic her children ever knew and she and Jim always bought organic and local food from farmers decades before it was considered good practice. Not surprisingly Mum was engaging by nature and we were always surrounded by interesting people, including the many foreign students she and Jim hosted in our home which taught us the value of inclusivity. She enriched the lives of those who were in contact with her. Audrey loved animals and we were fortunate to be surrounded by the personalities of many memorable family pets. It was 29 years after our father died that she met the love of her later life, George Leger. Their common interests in art, nature, creative writing, cottage life, travelling, plus a lifetime of stories to tell and family to enjoy kept them close. George cared for and lovingly cajoled her through her health problems until she just couldn't stay with us any longer. Audrey will be remembered lovingly by many and is survived, along with George, by her children: Lynn (Andrew), Tim (Andrea), Jay (Trish), Michael (Caroline), Jason and friend Geri Altman. Audrey will be remembered by her grandchildren Paul (Kelly), Fay, Jessica (Brandan), Tom (Kate), Heather, Samyra (Corey), Ayla (Kolton), Dylan and Kyle, and great-grandchildren Jasmine and Jackson. Mum had known for several months before her death that two great-grandchildren were expected early in 2014 and she was thrilled about their imminent arrival. Zara Audrey was born to Paul and Kelly ten days after Mum's passing and a baby is due to arrive in February to Jessica and Brandan. Audrey had formed good friendships with George's family and will be remembered by his children: Brigitte and Dan (Jerome, Julian, Leanne), Bertrand and Noel (Stephane, Colin), Vincent (Zachary, Emily) and George's siblings Paul, Bernard, Ann, Cecile and Irene as well as George's former spouse Germaine. The family will hold a memorial service in the summer. May you travel well.

As published in Winnipeg Free Press on Feb 15, 2014