Obituary of Audrey Lucille Banks

Audrey Lucille was born in Coronation, Alberta on Aug 27, 1935 the fourth child of eight to Job and Doris Edwards. Job or “Alfred” or “Red” was a station agent for the CPR and thus the family lived in a number of small communities during her childhood, Lacombe, Coronation, Monitor, and Tees to name a few. Mom talked about not having any problem sleeping with trains clattering past only a few feet away. Free rides were the ticket to allow her and Aunt Donna to jump the train for weekend visits to see Aunt Edith who had recently got married. Audrey graduated from Nursing School in Calgary with her RNA at the age of 21. Following that she worked for a year at Rimbey and then ventured to Eston, SK where she attended Full Gospel Bible Institute for the next year. The last day of Bible School in 1958 she was contracted to do home care for the Ness family in New Brigden. Unfortunately her job was short lived as her charge decided to slip the bonds of this earth on her very first day. So... jobless she headed back home to Veteran to regroup. The only ad posted for a Nursing Aide was located in Oyen, AB. She promptly applied and was accepted for a position at the Oyen Hospital. In Oyen she met Albert Banks while attending the Pentecostal Church and they were married in Veteran June 20, 1959. Three children blessed the Banks home, Darrell, Alice, and Shirley. it was at this time Audrey transitioned to full time Mom. Her desire to care for others kept her kitchen humming and a continuous stream of baking and other goodies made their way to seniors, camps, church functions, and most likely a host of other locations we weren’t even aware of. And we can’t forget to mention the many ribbons won at the Oyen fair. Sewing, embroidery, and crocheting served to supply many others with hand made gifts. Family Camp at Veteran and James River were a favorite, and always on the calendar. Mom was rarely competitive except when it came to Scrabble. She was a Master. She loved to sing specials in church and Dad played the piano. She is survived by her Son, Darrell and Carolyn Banks of Three Hills, Her daughters, Alice Banks of Abbotsford, and Shirley and Marcel Holland of Oyen, Grandchildren, Jordan, Brittany, David, Ashley, Ryland, Jonathan, Cassidy, Elizabeth, Avalon, Alana, and Stacie, 11 Great Grandchildren, and her Sisters, Edith, and Lois and Brother Ron. Audrey was predeceased by her husband, Albert, her parents, her brothers Gerald, Leonard and Kenneth and her sister Donna.