Audrey Litherland
October 22nd 1931 - September 25th 2007
Audrey passed away peacefully at 6:30 pm this past Tuesday in the Intensive Care Unit at the Vancouver General Hospital. After a long and full life, she leaves behind her loving and devoted husband Henry, sons Paul, John, Simon and Peter and their partners Karen, Madeleine and Vachira. She will be remembered by her sister Joy, and her family: husband Barry and children Andrew, Alison and Cathy. She was predeceased by her older brother Donald but will be in the living memories of her sister in law Isobel and nieces and nephew Stephen, Janet and Ruth.
Born in Roscrea, Co. Tipperary, Ireland to the late Robert and Edith McDonagh, she attended Methodist College, Belfast before becoming an associate of the Trinity College London for her piano studies. In 1949 she embarked on a career as a nurse, and later a midwife, at the Royal Belfast Hospital for Sick Children and subsequently at Kings College Hospital and Great Ormond Street Hospital for Sick Children in London, England. After a short work placement at the Mayo Clinic in Rochester, Minnesota she returned to England to accept the marriage proposal from Henry in 1959. Together, they traveled to Canada as passengers on a freighter in May of 1961 and drove from Montreal to Victoria.
While working in Victoria at the Royal Jubilee Hospital she gave birth to Paul, and after moving to the Lower Mainland: John, Simon and Peter. In 1980 she returned to work at the Extended Care Unit at the U.B.C. Health Sciences Centre Hospital.
Her love of family, gardening and passion for the community launched her into a number of charitable organizations; as President of the Vancouver Garden Club, the St George's School Auxiliary, and the UBC Botanical Garden's Friends Of The Garden, and also she was on the Board of Directors of St George's School, the Vancouver Academy of Music and the Alzheimer Society of BC.
Audrey will be remembered by her family and the great many friends she has made over the years. Her garden, music, family and friends have always been a source of great strength to her.
The family would like to give their thanks to the many people who have supported her in her recent times of need, and would like to extend their gratitude to the staff at the VGH ICU for their care and compassion. In lieu of flowers, contributions to the Alzheimer Society of BC would be appreciated 604.681.6530.
The service will be held at St Mary's Church 2490 West 37th, Vancouver BC at 10 am on Wednesday October 3rd, 2007.
Jesus, tender Shepherd, hear me,
bless thy little lamb tonight;
through the darkness be thou near me,
keep me safe till morning light.
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