Audrey Luella Carter died after battling several serious illnesses for many years on Saturday March 7th, 2015, at Pioneer Ridge in Thunder Bay, Ontario.
Audrey was born in Kenora, Ontario on September 7th, 1946 to Kenneth and Edna Watts but moved to Winnipeg, Manitoba shortly after with her family.
She participated in many activities while there such as the Winnipeg Girl’s Choir. After graduating from high school, Audrey took her Registered Nurse (R.N.) training from the Winnipeg Children’s Hospital. She received her HBSc. in nursing from the University of Saskatchewan.
With this training she worked as an R.N. in Northeastern Ontario before starting a family. Audrey is survived by her four children: Ruth Tonkin of Winnipeg, MB; Steven Tonkin (wife Pam and grand-children Tyler, Riley, Jimmy and Holly) of Barrie, ON; Mary Hull (husband Dennis and grand-children Lauren and Rachel) of Hanmer, ON; and Alan Tonkin (partner Vanessa and grand-daughter Chloe) of Kenora, ON. Encouraged by her uncle, Audrey later returned to Northwestern Ontario to be near family and to work as a community nurse and northern nurse practitioner with First Nations communities.
Audrey is also survived by her husband Rev. Blake Carter of Thunder Bay, ON, and stepchildren Mindy R. Carter (husband Kevin and grand-children Harrison and Benjamin) of Montreal, QC and Laughlyn Carter (wife Pheterchart and grand-daughter Kiera) of Calgary, AB, her sister Ellen Geisbrecht (husband Harvey, nephew Kenneth and niece Jane, husband Paul, and their children Nate, Eva and Eric) of Winnipeg, MB. Audrey is also leaving behind many special friends and cousins, including: Sharon Loghrin of Kakabeka Falls; Ann and Derek Mallows of South Porcupine; and Doris (George) Hunter of White Dog First Nations.
Audrey was a talented musician and would often perform as an organist and soloist in many of the church congregations of which she was a part. She was a woman that was strong in her faith, and along with her husband Blake, she lived her life reflecting that faith. Audrey was a woman who touched the lives of many throughout the years.
Graveside for the late Mrs. Audrey Carter will be held on Wednesday, March 11, 2015 at 2:00PM in O'Connor Cemetery. Following the interment, a funeral service will be held at Central United Church in Kakabeka Falls, Ontario AT 3:00pm. Reception at Central United will follow the service. Expressions of sympathy such as flowers are appreciated. Donations can be sent to The Presbyterian Church in Canada’s International Ministries Project #IMEE01 Gifts of Change at presbyterian.ca.
Arrangements have been entrusted to the Westfort Chapel, 420 West Gore Street at James.
