On July 3, 2022 Audrey Fiala passed away peacefully at the Benevolence Care Centre, Edmonton, Alberta, at the age of 96 years.
She will be lovingly remembered by her children: Dick (Louise), Donna Swiniarski (John), Dave (Anna), Danny (Janice), Dianne (Scott), Dean (Margo); grandchildren: Julie, Eric (Martina), Melanie, Jaela, Katie (Clinton), Megan Woods (Patrick), Jenelle McAuley (Phil); and great-grandchildren: Talson, Locke, Chloe, Aimee, Darla and Marni.
Audrey was predeceased by her husband, Emil Joseph Fiala; father, Ralph Hann; mother, Willa Hann; and her sisters, Linda Kelly and Elsie Lawrance.
Audrey St. Claire Hann was born in Dartmouth, NS in June, 1926 and throughout her life she remained a 'blue noser' to the core, keeping in touch with everything Maritime and everyone who was a Maritimer. In December of 1946, she travelled across the country by train to Trochu, Alberta, arriving in the dead of winter to marry Emil Fiala on January 2, 1947, moving with Emil and the children to Edmonton in 1965.
Besides raising six children, Audrey had an eclectic career, which involved both paid and volunteer positions. She began by assisting Emil in running Dynamic Sales, which serviced and brought radios, TVs and appliances to the Trochu area. She was, at various times, a legal stenographer, ran the telephone switchboard at Sears Meadowlark, a real estate assistant at Comrie Coughlin, and for 30 years a volunteer in the gift shop at the Misericordia Hospital in Edmonton.
She was renowned as a baker of pies, cakes and all things sweet, and participated in the Order of Royal Purple and Catholic Women's Leagues. But her real secret power was expertise in yoyo and bowling! Audrey was above all a gracious woman, loved by all who met her.
A special thank you to Dr. Prabhpreet Dhaliwal and the Benevolence Care Centre staff and to Dr. F. Armstrong (her former family physician) for their great care and compassion given to our Mother, Grandmother and Great-Grandmother.
A Celebration of Life will be held in September at Connelly McKinley Funeral Home in Edmonton. Please check Connelly McKinley's website at www.connelly-mckinley.com for date and time, which will be posted in late August.
In lieu of flowers please make a donation to a charity of your choice.
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