In Memoriam
AUDREY MURIEL KINGSMILL KYLE (nee BYERLEY)
PASSED AWAY PEACEFULLY ON FRIDAY AUGUST 7, 2009.
AT SHOALHAVEN, NSW.
AGED 85.
My mother, Audrey, departed this world just after 12.34am on 7th August 2009 at Shoalhaven Memorial Hospital where she had been admitted 9 days earlier with pneumonia following a bout of flu which began on July 15 following a Senior Citizens outing known as Xmas in Winter.
For many of her friends who saw her doing the Hokey Pokey at the outing there was disbelief. In fact she had confided in the last few months that she was feeling increasingly tired and that she was now ready to leave us if she had no energy to live independently. Whilst in hospital, her doctor confirmed that she had an acute form of leukemia called AML. In fact she took the diagnosis very calmly and bravely according to my son and daughter who were at her beside. She had become increasingly breathless in the last few months and had complained that she couldn’t even reach Woolies on her daily walk with her trusty walker without sitting down during the 300 yards for a breather or two. Audrey already knew it and her regular calls with myself had often spoken of having put all the arrangements in place. She was reconciled with God’s will .She was an active lady right up until her last days with her indoor bowls, cards and church attendances, luncheons and outings. She was also very much an independent lady and never a burden on anyone. She was ready to let herself go and departed this world with great dignity in the wee hours of last Friday.
Jack and Audrey came to Australia in 1984, chose to become Australian citizens after their first ten years here and were very happy to be here to see all their four grandchildren grow up, rather than be on the other side of the world in the UK. It was fitting that two of her grandchildren were at her bedside in her last days. Jacqui and Richard were able to hop in a car, actually Audrey’s car, last weekend and drive the ten hours from Melbourne to Nowra once they knew she was hospitalized. Audrey was so happy to see them and completely surprised. Actually Richard stayed at her bedside up until last Wednesday which was Audrey’s last active day when she could still sit up and get out of her hospital bed. For sure this would have given his grandma great pleasure since she always said Richard reminded her most of her own father, Athol Byerley, who was tall dark and handsome and in Audrey’s words a “lady’s manâ€. Richard is definitely a chip off the old block.
We are here to celebrate Audrey’s life. Let me tell you a little more.
I am pleased they are now back together again. Audrey will be interred after this afternoon’s cremation right next to Jack at the Old Berry Cemetery at the Wall of Remembrance. To prove their love let me read you from Jack’s anniversary card to Audrey just 5 years ago which I just found in Audrey’s papers:
“My Dear Audrey,
Now I know I am old, as you can see I bought the wrong card for your birthday, I was of course thinking of a perhaps more memorable day, our Wedding Anniversary day. It will be a happy day whatever it is called. I love you so much, right through to the end.
Happy Happy Birthday My Love.
Jack XXâ€.
Her time with us has come to an end abruptly and she has joined her beloved partner in life once more. Today at her funeral service at the old Scots Church in Berry NSW we celebrate her life and the happy memories she left with all of us. You would have to sum Audrey up as the chatty type, even if at times you didn’t have as much time to chat as she did. She will be missed but not forgotten. Audrey will be interred next to Jack at the Old Berry Cemetery in the Wall of Remembrance. Adieu and bon voyage, Audrey, from your loving family and friends. Rest in Peace.
Obituary written by:
Martin Kyle
6/78 The Avenue
Parkville
Melbourne VIC 3052
martin@tanayong.co.th
Wednesday 12 August, 2009
