Obituary of Audrey Ann Gustafson

1927-2016 Audrey Ann Gustafson passed away from respiratory complications just short of her 89th birthday in Unit 6200 at Royal University Hospital in Saskatoon on April 6, 2016. Audrey was born in Blucher, Saskatchewan after her twin brother Gordon “Jiggs” McLaughlin on April 10, 1927. She grew up on the farm with her parents and 5 brothers and sisters and was proud of the accomplishments of their hard work on and off the farm raising livestock, working the land, providing baking and home cooked meals for the boys and hired hands. She grew up through the depression and WWll with not a lot of money but enjoyed laughing, playing games, softball, horseshoes, hockey, curling, and going to dances. Audrey moved to Saskatoon to attend business school at age 15 and began her working career at Saskatoon City Hospital as assistant to the director. Over the next 60 years she worked at Dominion Motors, Meyers Construction, the Sheraton and Bessborough Hotels, and the Centennial Auditorium, retiring at 75. In 1952 she married the love of her life, Alvin Martin Gustafson and had three children-Arla, Patrick, and Karen. They lived in their family home in Avalon for 51 years and involved their children in sports, music, and being productive and active members in their community. In later years Audrey and Al loved their daily coffee and meeting up with friends at the Legion, Market Mall or the Co-op. Audrey was active in bowling winning many awards. She was a volunteer in her children’s school and activities including fundraising, management and hosting events. In recent years she loved spending time with her four grandchildren, working out at the Field House and playing bingo at her care home. Audrey is survived by her daughter Arla Gustafson (Jesse, Lee and Mason Windels,) daughter Karen Gustafson and son-in-law James Bicigo, Patrick’s son Grayson LaRochelle, sister Patricia Torry, and in laws Frances Rawlick, Bud and Pat Stohl, Louise Sommerfeld, many nieces and nephews and extended family members. She was predeceased by her husband Alvin Gustafson in 2009, son Patrick Gustafson in 2002, brother William “Bill” McLaughlin, twin brother Gordon “Jiggs” McLaughlin, sister Evelyn Kenney and brother-in-law Dalton Kenney, brother Donald McLaughlin, brother-in-law Gordon Torry, parents Charles James and Evelyn (Howell) McLaughlin, in laws Lorraine and Charles Beerling, Alice and Norman Cameron, Muriel and Charles Fowler, and Keith Sommerfeld. Special thanks to Warm and Cozy where she happily lived for the past 4 years,