Audrey Marie Holmes
December 31, 1947 - December 23, 2020
Obituary
Audrey Marie Holmes passed away peacefully the morning of Wednesday December 23, 2020 with the love of her daughter and sister surrounding her.
Audrey was born in Renton, Washington at the old Renton hospital on December 31, 1947 to LaVern and Lois Moltzau. She was the oldest of two daughters. She was a New Year’s baby, and everyone teased her that the world celebrated her on her birthday the day she was born! This indeed couldn’t be truer, she should be celebrated as she was a blessing to everyone she knew.
Audrey grew up in SeaTac, near the SeaTac airport. She attended Tyee High school and met some long life friends throughout her school days, including her two lifelong friends, Cathy and Corky. Audrey spent much of her career as a telephone operator managing the switchboards in Burien for PNB (now AT&T). After retiring with over 30 years of service, she continued her employment at the Boeing operator services off of Airport Way in Seattle. She had so many dear lifelong friends through work, and also helped get several telephone operators on to Boeing after the AT&T office closed down. She spent a lot of time with her late granddaughter, Kayleen Mann. Kayleen kept her busy when she was young calling her “grandma bubbles” and would keep her busy throughout the weekends and enjoy trips to grandpa’s and grandma’s house. They had a very close connection as she did with most everyone she met. She was supportive to Kayleen through her childhood, and grew even closer to her throughout Kayleen’s battle with cancer.
Audrey moved to NE Tacoma in 2013, where she was a member of Light of Christ Lutheran Church and she could always be found volunteering in the church garden each week with her favorite church ladies. She also attended the ladies bible study and enjoyed all of the women she could share her strong faith with. She also for years participated in the senior center walking group out of Federal Way where she met so many more friends and got to see so many hiking paths over her years. She even pushed herself after her cancer diagnoses in 2016 and kept hiking and walking one of her main hobbies. One of her favorite hikes was a hike called “Federation Forest” state park. Over the years of various cancer health issues, she participated in a group called Cancer Lifeline in Renton where there, she would share stories with other survivors battling cancer and always had the positive attitude no matter what she faced. She supported Valerie with her busy traveling to Alaska for work and was a very dedicated mother that one could never forget. She traveled throughout the years with her sister to Boston, road trips to Minnesota and even got to travel to Norway to find ancestor names. She loved a good game of Chinese Checkers and always seemed to win each time.
Audrey was an inspiration to all, battling 6 cancers over 28 years. She was told by many she’s a “tough cookie” and she smiled each time we reminded her of that. A coworker of Valerie got her boxing gloves in November and she proudly put them on to show how much of a fighter she was. Through her last year of battling cancer, Valerie would read her Portals of Prayers nearly every night reminding her of the deep love God had for her during her journey and she would always comment after each story that she knew God had a plan for her. Even on some of the worst days, she’d still go out for a walk and push herself rain or shine. She battled her cancer courageously each time, never complaining or asking “why me?” Her faith grew over the last year when diagnosed with lung cancer. She held her head high with each treatment she faced and never doubted the love and support surrounding her from family and friends. Valerie would always comment, how many more feet can these support, love and inspirational cards grow with all the people thinking and caring for her. Needless to say she had hundreds of cards over the last few years with the love, support and encouragement being sent her way. Over the last month of her battling cancer, she would often say “I love people and I love life.” The day before she passed away, Valerie reminded her that she was always an inspiration to everyone and that she was never alone through all of the treatments, appointments and hospitalizations and although COVID prevented us from seeing her through the last week, she knew she was greatly loved at all times. She was a survivor and everyone loved her to pieces. She was definitely quite a gal.
She will be so very missed by her daughter Valerie, sister Roxann, cousins and SO many close friends from church and from the activities she kept busy with. She was our true survivor and I think we can all know in our hearts she kept her faith and knew her path when God called her home. We want to thank everyone so much for the love, support, and encouragement over the years.
In lieu of flowers, memorial donations may be made to Light of Christ Lutheran Church Community Garden (https://www.lightofchristgarden.or
Audrey,
you are in our hearts always, as the dearest sweetest person, we have ever met or known. You were such a bright light in our lives. You were a true warrior and faithful servant to Our Lord. We miss you, but share in you because we have your darling daughter, Valerie, to love and care for in your place. We know you are safe with The Lord and no longer suffering. That gives us peace, solace and comfort. You are in a beautiful place now and we know you are watching after all of
us. Rest In Peace, dear friend.
Audrey was such a sweet, humble and brave woman. We loved her sense of humor and her fighting spirit. She had such a strong faith and we know that is what got her through so many trials in her life. She will always be remembered with love and grace. Heaven opened its doors to a beautiful, loving spirit. She is missed!
Murtis and Everett Walden
We will miss Audrey very much, she was a dear friend.
Audrey….Friends since childhood, you, I and Corky will always be BFF, we will always love you and know you will be waiting for us in paradise. Until then, you will always be in my heart and thoughts. You set a high standard for all of us left behind. 💖
Audrey was a special person and a great Sister in Law. I will miss her greatly. She was a wonderful Aunt to all her nieces and nephews and she loved to tease them and enjoyed laughing about silly things. Thru all her battles with cancer she used her Faith to give her strength and she shared it with others to give them strength also. An amazing Christian Women that can now receive her rewards in heaven.
Audrey was such a sweet person and I met her at our Women’s Bible Study and Light of Christ Lutheran. I always enjoyed talking with her, and when her cancer showed up again I provided meals for her to enjoy. I know she suffered a lot and she seemed to keep up a positive attitude with all of it. I enjoyed knowing her and am now sorry for her loss. She is in perfect peace now with the Lord in heaven.
I am praying for Valerie and for all of us who mourn her loss. It was a gift to know Audrey.
Mom…you were an inspiration to me. Words can’t express how much I miss you right now, my heart hurts. I know your faith got stronger the more you fought and I will never forget reading our Portals of Prayers at night to keep your focus on God and your faith. When I talked to you the night before you passed I told you to keep on keeping on and you always did for me. Mothers are your best friend, and you were so right. You always told me I was “quite a gal” but I’d say you were. Thank you for teaching me to have a good heart and passing on your strength. I will always aim to live more like you and keep your memory alive. Love you always. And always. ❤️