Audrey Althea Ruud
June 12, 1920 - August 8, 2009
Obituary
Audrey Althea Ruud, 89, Born in Wapato, WA June 12th 1920. Last sunset, 3:30pm August 8th, 2009 in her home at Mt. St. Vincent’s in West Seattle, WA.
Audrey lived most of her life in Burien and West Seattle. She worked for over 30 years in the Medical Dental Building in various positions in downtown Seattle. She was an avid traveler and was constantly on the go. She embraced retirement with the exuberance of a youth embracing their first job. She traveled the world; she was happiest behind the wheel of a car headed for parts unknown. She was also a phenomenal baker of brownies, chocolate chip cookies, pineapple upsidedown cake, rum cake though she never drank a drop in her life peanutbutter cookies and oatmeal raisin cookies raisins for Bumpa which she loved to bake for her favorite grandchildren. She squeezed every ounce out of life, sleeping very little and always on a mission.
Audrey had a true passion for helping other people. After going blind due to macular degeneration, she learned to cope with the loss of vision with the assistance of the Community Services for the Blind and Partially SightedCSBPS. Audrey set about helping other newly blind people facing the same obstacles she had overcome.
She was spotlighted by the United Way of King County being touted as ‘a remarkably vivacious dynamo…she’s the one CSBPS calls when they want a client to see how rich life can continue to be or when a client feels homebound with the loss of vision. Audrey has managed to get more than a few out of the house through her friendly tenacity and powerful example 2 being her friends Tina and Edith. …essentially the cruise director for a group of blind and partially sighted seniors in South King County, Audrey has organized shopping expeditions, boat tours, library trips and night out at the local dinner theatre.’
One of our favorite memories of her adventures during this time was when she and her friend Tina also blind flew to Elko, NV to play the slots. She was not a gambler in the least but the chance to go on a trip was worth anything to her…even if it was Elko, NV.
Audrey, the youngest of 8, is predeceased by her husband Robert Albert Ruud, her grandson Tony Palella and her siblings Rex, June, Evelyn, Francis, Carrol and Arlie. Her parents were Howard Clarence Corbin and Stella Lacrise Baker. She is survived by her daughter Sharon Palella, her grandchildren Pam, Nick, Paula and Deb Palella and her brother Burl Clement.
Services will be held Wednesday August 12th 11am at Bonney-Watson Parker Chapel in Burien at 900 S.W. 146th St., Burien, WA 98166.
The family would like to thank her Mt. St. Vincent family for their loving care. Charitable contributions can be made to Mt. St. Vincent’s:
http://providence.org/long_term_care/Mount_St_Vincent/Foundation/e15Donation.htm
My sincere condolences to the Palella family. Her granddaughter Paula is one of my dearest friends and I think Paula got her contagious “spunk” from Gaga. What a hoot Gaga was! The laughs we had and seeing her out at her beloved River place. She always welcomed my family with open arms and was always interested in what you were up to in your life. She was a devoted wife to her Bumpa and inspired me to devotion to my family in all conditions, good or bad. Thanks Gaga for all your sweet kindness, so many people will miss you!! God Bless you in Heaven Love, Patty, Jim and Josie Johncox
Good-bye in this realm Gaga. Your heart, your Spirit for adventure as big as Puget Sound.
Soaring free – now you can REALLY keep an eye on the Palellas!
The Star Kingdom just got a whole lot brighter!!
Love to you all,
Nancy Three- Sticks
Heaven has a new ray of sunshine..sunsets will forever be brighter.
Sharon, Nick, Deblyn, Paulla and Pam.. our condolences to all of you~ we know you are all hurting and will miss her presence emensely. We pray her spirit and her love for all of you will sustain you and help you to cope with your loss.
She made everyone feel welcome. We are grateful to have met her and are inspired by her love of life and family.
We are happy for her to be home with those who’ve gone before her. What a family reunion that has to be! There has to be a river that runs through heaven.
Carpe Diem ~ she never let one day go to waste. Heaven will surely be in need of running shoes.
I will always remember Audrey as she was when she first came to the Mount, walking all over the place and getting to know everybody! Everyone on the whole 5th floor knew and loved Audrey!
She brought so much laughter and fun to us, with her quick wit and
great “one liners”! Even when she didn’t always make sense, her responses seemed to be “right on!”
I will miss her very much, as will all of us!
Sharon, you were the best daughter ever! I hope you will always feel a part of the Mount family and come and see us any time.
Love, Sister Judy
We will all miss Gaga! I will always remember and appreciate the welcome mat was always out. Love always.
Thanks Gaga for so many wonderful memories ! Catalina will never be the same. I will miss the Spark of energy you brought to a room and your determination to just go !!! I will treasure the gift of love you shared with me and all my friends. Thanks for being my grandmother it meant the world to me. Say hello to the family .. see you in the blue skies and the oceans …
Even though I met Audrey only a few times – Sharon shared many wonderful stories of her life and adventures. My thoughts are with you.
Warm, welcoming, enthusiastic, curious, generous…and a beautiful sense of humor to boot! Fabulous memories to hold on to.
Love Chery, Allan and Caden
Dear Sharon and family;
I am very sorry for your loss. My thoughts and prayers are with you at this time.
I can still smell the Buick. Gaga would come on Thursdays to visit and bring Tootsie rolls. We would hide in the back when she was leaving for the day and by the time she made it to 8th Ave, we would spring up and surprise her, telling her we wanted to come home with her. We never wanted her to leave. I still never want her to leave but I want her to be free. Thank you to all who came to the services and participated in this guest book. It really means a lot to all of us.
Love, Deblyn and Family
This lovely, caring, energetic woman clearly brought joy everywhere she went. Now may her gifts be a treasure in the kingdom of the Lord.
Audrey was a woman on a mission right up to her last days. Her companionship was a joy. It has been a privilege to care for her, and to provide at place at the Mount that allowed her to continue to be absolutely Audrey in every way.
Hope Tony, Bumpa, Uncle Treve and the others are ready!, there’s a new sheriff in town!
Love ya heaps Gaga
xox
It has been a great pleasure getting to know Audrey and Sharon these last few years while she was at Mt St Vincent’s. Thank you so much for the honor of helping to take care of her on the last leg of her journey in this life. She is missed very much.
Though our meetings were brief Gaga…I feel like I knew you well thru all the love I witness in Sharon,Deblyn and Paula. It is a wonderful thought for me to think that you are now seeing for miles and miles and will get see the faces of your beautiful family when at some point they will be reunited with you. Save me a spot at the table my friend…XOXO All my love and support to your beautiful family. You did good Gaga…well done. Please say hello to the big guy for me.
Love to you – Dana
Your family is in our thoughts and in our prayers. She was a “grand” lady and we’ll always remember the good times down at the River!
Please accept our very sincere condolences and loving thoughts to you all at this sad time.
Sincerely yours,
Dong @ Jennie 14640 22nd ave sw
To Audrey’s Family,
We are sorry to hear of Audrey’s passing. We can remember her as a friendly neighbor, offering her home for social events, full of smiles and a wicked sense of humor. I can just see her walking around the block, with her dark glasses and a cane…..waving at things I could barely see…..Hmmmm, I would think, are those glasses just for show????? I know they were necessary, but even now that makes me smile…..Hope she is off for a great walk……Love and Hugs, Ernie and Vera
Audrey was a fearless character and we loved every minute we spent with her. We would give her Kokanee trout when we got some she liked them better than we did. I took one trip around the campground with her driving the golf cart – she couldn’t see worth a rip, but she was good with the horn. Everyone could hear her coming and knew to get out of the way. We are going to miss you old friend and we hope you are you are spinning around heaven on a new golf cart!
Thank you Audrey for sharing your family with me, have fun on your new adventure!
God Bless, Aunt Audrey; Rest in peace.
How you inspired us all Gaga. You lived life to the fullest and gave everyone who knew you such joy. You will forever life in our hearts. Much love to Sharon, Nick & Lily, Pam, Paula and Deblyn.
Love, Cullen, Shelly, Kaitlin & Rylee