Audrey (nee Hillcox) Bernice Brooker, 1930- 2014 departed from us peacefully in her sleep with comfort from her daughter, Avonne Brooker-Rutowski on August 8, 2014 at the age of 83 at Little Mountain Place in Vancouver. Audrey passed after a long valiant battle with Alzheimer’s to join her love of 43 years. Her husband, Sidney Harold Brooker; her parents, Archibald and Hannah Martha; and her brother, Clarence, predeceased her. She is survived by her daughter, Avonne, son in law, Paul Rutowski and her dear grandchildren, Alexandria and Andrew of Austin, Texas, nieces and nephews, Brenda Hillcox, Jack Hillcox of Edmonton, AB, and Arthur Hillcox of Saskatoon, SK, grand nephew, Marcus Hillcox of Edmonton, AB, and Sister in law Peggy and (Ronald) Fee of Vancouver, BC.
Audrey was born in Winnipeg, Manitoba and grew up in Saskatoon, SK. She attended the Saskatchewan School for the Deaf in Saskatoon. Audrey moved to Calgary and worked at a printing company before transferring to Vancouver to marry Sidney on May 18, 1958. She quit her job when she found out she was pregnant with their daughter and stayed at home as a doting mom for ten years. She went back to work and worked at TB Vets for over 20 years then retired. Audrey was a living example of how a loving and supportive mother/grandmother should have been. She was well known for her sweetness, strength and genuine love for family and friends. Audrey enjoyed her times at the weekly Happy Hands card group as well as her dining/shopping days with friends and family. Audrey had an incredible life with many adventures to Texas as well as travelling to Alaska, Egypt, Greece and Mexico.
The family wishes to extend a special thanks to Dr. Richard Nakamura for his care and compassion and his support to the family, special thanks also go to her son in law (Audrey always called him “her boy”), Paul, who was a devoted and caring caregiver for four years; Little Mountain Place nursing staff, April, Helen, Jun, and Richard; Peggy Fee, Ava Hawkins, Denelda Starnes, and Meena Mann for supporting Audrey in the last few weeks while she was at home and at hospital. The Celebration of Life service will be held at Kensington Community Centre, 5175 Dumfries St (37th East and Knight St.), Vancouver, B.C. The service will be officiated by Pastor David Nielsen at 11:00am then will be followed by light refreshments at the hall. In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to The Happy Hands Club at Trinity Lutheran Church in Vancouver, B.C.
