Obituary of Audrey May O'Donnell

Audrey May O'Donnell was born on March 8, 1937, in Belleisle Creek, NB. She was the daughter of the late Eldon and Georgina "Ena" (Anderson) Vail. 

She spent her teenage years working at the Netherwood Girls School in Rothesay. Later in life she would work for Barbours and then go on to do homecare for the elderly, after her children were grown.

On June 18, 1955, Audrey married the love of her life, Austin Daniel O’Donnell and together they would celebrate their unwavering love story with 40 years of marriage, until Austin’s passing on November 11, 1995.

Audrey was a woman of love. As a homemaker and wife for many years, she labored over her motherly duties without complaint. Countless meals, breadmaking (Oh, the homemade bread), childrearing and laundry – her jobs were never done, and she did each with so much love and pride.

Audrey considered herself richly blessed to have such a large family. Surrounded by them is where she felt the most joy. She was always ready to listen and greeted her children, grandchildren and great grandchildren with open arms and a heart full of love to give them. You never left without a big hug and her saying, “Love you Bunches.”

She especially loved her visitor journals and enjoyed being able to go back and read everything others had written in them.

She was a humble woman of faith with patience and inner strength beyond measure. She was genuine, kind and always lent a hand or an ear to anyone who needed it. She never had a poor thing to say about anyone. Our loving and devoted wife, mother, grandmother, sister, and friend too all whose lives she touched.

It is with profound sadness we announce the peaceful passing of Audrey May (Vail) O'Donnell at the Kiwanis Nursing Home on June 8, 2021, at the age of 84; and yet we rejoice knowing that she has gone home to be with the Lord.

She will live on in the hearts of her children: Janice Stanley and her husband Brent, Susan Wright and her husband Brian, Marilyn Mitton, Mike O’Donnell and his wife Wanda, Nancy O’Donnell and Guy Roy, Les O’Donnell, Sandra Boyd and her husband Tracy, Austin O’Donnell Jr., Angie Nodwell and her husband Jamie, Rick O’Donnell and Carlene Baxter, Joe O’Donnell and his wife Jean and Sharmon O’Donnell and Scott Trites; her sisters: Brenda Vail and Elaine Ford and her husband Ralph; her brother, Rodney Vail; her sister-in-law, Eunice O’Donnell; her grandchildren: Jill, Crystal, Kelly, Brigette, Beth, Jason, Andrew, Katelyn, Melanie, Melissa, Vanessa, Dalton, Jessica, Jacob, Danny, David, Natasha, Maddy, Anna, Dane, Tyler, Adara, Jasmine, Izaac and Noah; 20 great grandchildren; as well as several nieces and nephews. She also leaves behind many other family members and friends who will miss her dearly.

Along with her parents and her husband, she is predeceased by her son, Stephen O’Donnell and her son-in-law, Douglas Mitton.

Arrangements have been entrusted to the care of Wallace Funeral Home, 34 Sunnyside Drive, Sussex, NB (506-433-1176) from where visitation will be held on Monday, June 14, 2021, from 10am to 12pm. A Celebration of Audrey’s life will be held from Wallace Community Chapel on Monday, June 14, 2021, at 1:30pm with Father Paul Bebodu officiating. Due to Covid-19, please call the funeral home to reserve your seat. The interment will take place in St. Phillips Catholic Cemetery, Head of Millstream.

If desired, donations may be made out to the Sussex Sharing Club - Food Bank or to a charity of the donor's choice. Online condolences and donations as well as the livestream of the funeral service may be found at www.WallaceFuneralHome.com