Audrey Lucille Arpin was born April 18th, 1927, in Rahway, New Jersey, the daughter of Eugene and Muriel Leighton.
She passed peacefully from this life to eternal life with her Savior on June 11th, 2019 in University Place, Washington.
She will be dearly missed and fondly remembered by her large family for her sweetness, humility, gentleness and unfailing kindness.
Audrey grew up in New Jersey with her brother Fred and her two sisters Marilyn and Janet. Following WW II she went through nurses training at Backus Hospital in Norwich, Connecticut. Near the end of her time in school she caught the eye of a young Army Air Corps pilot, Lt Art Arpin. He was enchanted by this dark-haired beauty with the radiant smile. They were married on August 27th, 1949 and soon began raising their family.
In 1954, while in the middle of building a new house in Connecticut, they received an offer from someone interested in buying it. They decided to sell, bought a station wagon and a trailer, packed up the four boys and headed west. A long way west.
A few thousand miles later they settled in Portland, Oregon. Two more boys were born there before Dad found a better job in Seattle. They settled down in the Ballard neighborhood where they would remain for the next 36 years.
Three more boys came along, then, to everyone’s surprise, a baby girl. It was such news that it even made the front page of the Seattle Post-Intelligencer. A family picture with the headline: “Nine brothers joined by baby sister”.
Having earned her RN, Audrey worked for many years as a nurse at Ballard Hospital, usually working a night shift in order to be home with her children in the daytime. She occasionally found some time to sleep. Later she worked as an elder care nurse at the Norse Home. She was always very dedicated to the care of her patients. Once, at Ballard Hospital she had a patient who got the hiccups following abdominal surgery and couldn’t get rid of them for several days. Mom finally came up with the cure - a spoonful of peanut butter, a remedy she swore by ever after.
At home, her nursing skills combined with her kind heart made life much easier for her kids anytime they got sick. And in a large family when one gets sick, several more usually follow.
Audrey and Art spent many happy times together sailing and exploring the waters of Puget Sound. They especially loved trips to the San Juan Islands. They travelled back to the East coast and Bermuda to visit relatives and enjoyed several vacations in Hawaii. The whole family took many summer vacations to Birch Bay, with wonderful days kayaking, swimming, roaming the tide flats, digging clams, catching crabs and enjoying the meals she lovingly prepared for us.
She enjoyed simple pleasures in life, knitting, crafts and painting. Taking a daily break from her busy day as wife, mother, and short-order cook for 10 kids, she enjoyed watching Bill Alexander, the predecessor of Bob Ross. She like learning how to paint happy little trees. It was a well-deserved break.
She enjoyed singing and, although she wasn’t known as a particularly gifted singer, in her genuine humility she knew it and was not afraid to laugh at herself. She thoroughly enjoyed one of life’s simplest but greatest gifts, the gift of laughter, which she shared generously with everyone. She laughed easily and had a way of making life fun, and funny in simple ways.
She also played the piano, although really only one song - Annie Laurie. This talent was passed on to her children, with several becoming amateur musicians and two becoming professional pianists.
When her children grew up and began to marry (in bunches!), she decided to take a cake decorating class and provided delicious and beautiful cakes for many weddings. When grandchildren began to come along she was always ready to come over and help. Her rich experience with babies and her loving, generous heart brought much joy and happy memories to growing families.
In 1994 Art and Audrey finally sold the Ballard house and started looking for somewhere to live. They ended up in Coeur d’ Alene, Idaho for the next 5 years, enjoying the natural beauty of the area as well as the fun times having their children and grandchildren visit. Art’s declining health necessitated a return to the Seattle area. They eventually settled in Dupont at a semi-assisted living facility. Sadly, after a fall and complications following surgery, Art passed away in 2006. Audrey went to live with her son Fred and continued to enjoy special times with her ever-growing family.
After a few years her memory began to deteriorate and progressed to the point where she began to need extra care. She moved to an assisted living facility in Gig Harbor. After a fall and rehabilitation, she moved to an adult family care home in Tacoma, close to her daughter and son, where she was well cared for and regularly visited by her children, grandchildren and great-grandchildren.
Even as her memory gradually failed her, and she became very frail, she never lost the sweet, gentle and cheerful disposition that was the hallmark of her life. For that, and for all the generous love she gave to her family for so many years, we are eternally grateful.
Audrey was preceded in death by her husband of 57 years, Art, her brother, and her sisters.
She is survived by her children David (Sheryl), Gary (Kathy), Chris (Marianne), Dan, Fred, Alan (Maureen), Art (Kati), Tim (Dianne), Wil (Vanessa) and Diane (Jim).
Her grandchildren: David, Lisa, Matt, Alison, Wendy, Dennis, Nanette, Luke, Andy, Mark, Amy Evy, Patricia, Tony, John-Paul, Dominic, Andrew Stephen, Michaela, Jacob, Joseph, Lauren, Paul, Claire, Kevin, Greg, Katie, Marty, Nathan, Joshua, Erica, Anthony, Alex, Carrie, Michael, Eric, Stephen and Bryan.
Great-grandchildren: Garrett, Corbin, Alexander, Jon, Zach, Olivia, Ty, Beau, Kelsey, Tegan, Aspen, Fox, Remy, Nick, Jack, Luke, Miles, Audrey, Samuel, James, Lisbon, Jones, Gavyn, Evelyn, Alexander, Declan, Taylor, Indiana, Leila, Hannah, Rhea, Nora, Baby-on-the-way, Reid, Grace, Alexander, Zoe, Van, and 7 great-great-grandchildren.
She passed peacefully from this life to eternal life with her Savior on June 11th, 2019 in University Place, Washington.
She will be dearly missed and fondly remembered by her large family for her sweetness, humility, gentleness and unfailing kindness.
Audrey grew up in New Jersey with her brother Fred and her two sisters Marilyn and Janet. Following WW II she went through nurses training at Backus Hospital in Norwich, Connecticut. Near the end of her time in school she caught the eye of a young Army Air Corps pilot, Lt Art Arpin. He was enchanted by this dark-haired beauty with the radiant smile. They were married on August 27th, 1949 and soon began raising their family.
In 1954, while in the middle of building a new house in Connecticut, they received an offer from someone interested in buying it. They decided to sell, bought a station wagon and a trailer, packed up the four boys and headed west. A long way west.
A few thousand miles later they settled in Portland, Oregon. Two more boys were born there before Dad found a better job in Seattle. They settled down in the Ballard neighborhood where they would remain for the next 36 years.
Three more boys came along, then, to everyone’s surprise, a baby girl. It was such news that it even made the front page of the Seattle Post-Intelligencer. A family picture with the headline: “Nine brothers joined by baby sister”.
Having earned her RN, Audrey worked for many years as a nurse at Ballard Hospital, usually working a night shift in order to be home with her children in the daytime. She occasionally found some time to sleep. Later she worked as an elder care nurse at the Norse Home. She was always very dedicated to the care of her patients. Once, at Ballard Hospital she had a patient who got the hiccups following abdominal surgery and couldn’t get rid of them for several days. Mom finally came up with the cure - a spoonful of peanut butter, a remedy she swore by ever after.
At home, her nursing skills combined with her kind heart made life much easier for her kids anytime they got sick. And in a large family when one gets sick, several more usually follow.
Audrey and Art spent many happy times together sailing and exploring the waters of Puget Sound. They especially loved trips to the San Juan Islands. They travelled back to the East coast and Bermuda to visit relatives and enjoyed several vacations in Hawaii. The whole family took many summer vacations to Birch Bay, with wonderful days kayaking, swimming, roaming the tide flats, digging clams, catching crabs and enjoying the meals she lovingly prepared for us.
She enjoyed simple pleasures in life, knitting, crafts and painting. Taking a daily break from her busy day as wife, mother, and short-order cook for 10 kids, she enjoyed watching Bill Alexander, the predecessor of Bob Ross. She like learning how to paint happy little trees. It was a well-deserved break.
She enjoyed singing and, although she wasn’t known as a particularly gifted singer, in her genuine humility she knew it and was not afraid to laugh at herself. She thoroughly enjoyed one of life’s simplest but greatest gifts, the gift of laughter, which she shared generously with everyone. She laughed easily and had a way of making life fun, and funny in simple ways.
She also played the piano, although really only one song - Annie Laurie. This talent was passed on to her children, with several becoming amateur musicians and two becoming professional pianists.
When her children grew up and began to marry (in bunches!), she decided to take a cake decorating class and provided delicious and beautiful cakes for many weddings. When grandchildren began to come along she was always ready to come over and help. Her rich experience with babies and her loving, generous heart brought much joy and happy memories to growing families.
In 1994 Art and Audrey finally sold the Ballard house and started looking for somewhere to live. They ended up in Coeur d’ Alene, Idaho for the next 5 years, enjoying the natural beauty of the area as well as the fun times having their children and grandchildren visit. Art’s declining health necessitated a return to the Seattle area. They eventually settled in Dupont at a semi-assisted living facility. Sadly, after a fall and complications following surgery, Art passed away in 2006. Audrey went to live with her son Fred and continued to enjoy special times with her ever-growing family.
After a few years her memory began to deteriorate and progressed to the point where she began to need extra care. She moved to an assisted living facility in Gig Harbor. After a fall and rehabilitation, she moved to an adult family care home in Tacoma, close to her daughter and son, where she was well cared for and regularly visited by her children, grandchildren and great-grandchildren.
Even as her memory gradually failed her, and she became very frail, she never lost the sweet, gentle and cheerful disposition that was the hallmark of her life. For that, and for all the generous love she gave to her family for so many years, we are eternally grateful.
Audrey was preceded in death by her husband of 57 years, Art, her brother, and her sisters.
She is survived by her children David (Sheryl), Gary (Kathy), Chris (Marianne), Dan, Fred, Alan (Maureen), Art (Kati), Tim (Dianne), Wil (Vanessa) and Diane (Jim).
Her grandchildren: David, Lisa, Matt, Alison, Wendy, Dennis, Nanette, Luke, Andy, Mark, Amy Evy, Patricia, Tony, John-Paul, Dominic, Andrew Stephen, Michaela, Jacob, Joseph, Lauren, Paul, Claire, Kevin, Greg, Katie, Marty, Nathan, Joshua, Erica, Anthony, Alex, Carrie, Michael, Eric, Stephen and Bryan.
Great-grandchildren: Garrett, Corbin, Alexander, Jon, Zach, Olivia, Ty, Beau, Kelsey, Tegan, Aspen, Fox, Remy, Nick, Jack, Luke, Miles, Audrey, Samuel, James, Lisbon, Jones, Gavyn, Evelyn, Alexander, Declan, Taylor, Indiana, Leila, Hannah, Rhea, Nora, Baby-on-the-way, Reid, Grace, Alexander, Zoe, Van, and 7 great-great-grandchildren.
Audrey Lucille Arpin was born April 18th, 1927, in Rahway, New Jersey, the daughter of Eugene and Muriel Leighton.
She passed peacefully from this life to eternal life with her Savior on June 11th, 2019 in University Place, Washington.
She will be dearly missed and fondly remembered by her large family for her sweetness, humility, gentleness and unfailing kindness.
Audrey grew up in New Jersey with her brother Fred and her two sisters Marilyn and Janet. Following WW II she went through nurses training at Backus Hospital in Norwich, Connecticut. Near the end of her time in school she caught the eye of a young Army Air Corps pilot, Lt Art Arpin. He was enchanted by this dark-haired beauty with the radiant smile. They were married on August 27th, 1949 and soon began raising their family.
In 1954, while in the middle of building a new house in Connecticut, they received an offer from someone interested in buying it. They decided to sell, bought a station wagon and a trailer, packed up the four boys and headed west. A long way west.
A few thousand miles later they settled in Portland, Oregon. Two more boys were born there before Dad found a better job in Seattle. They settled down in the Ballard neighborhood where they would remain for the next 36 years.
Three more boys came along, then, to everyone’s surprise, a baby girl. It was such news that it even made the front page of the Seattle Post-Intelligencer. A family picture with the headline: “Nine brothers joined by baby sister”.
Having earned her RN, Audrey worked for many years as a nurse at Ballard Hospital, usually working a night shift in order to be home with her children in the daytime. She occasionally found some time to sleep. Later she worked as an elder care nurse at the Norse Home. She was always very dedicated to the care of her patients. Once, at Ballard Hospital she had a patient who got the hiccups following abdominal surgery and couldn’t get rid of them for several days. Mom finally came up with the cure - a spoonful of peanut butter, a remedy she swore by ever after.
At home, her nursing skills combined with her kind heart made life much easier for her kids anytime they got sick. And in a large family when one gets sick, several more usually follow.
Audrey and Art spent many happy times together sailing and exploring the waters of Puget Sound. They especially loved trips to the San Juan Islands. They travelled back to the East coast and Bermuda to visit relatives and enjoyed several vacations in Hawaii. The whole family took many summer vacations to Birch Bay, with wonderful days kayaking, swimming, roaming the tide flats, digging clams, catching crabs and enjoying the meals she lovingly prepared for us.
She enjoyed simple pleasures in life, knitting, crafts and painting. Taking a daily break from her busy day as wife, mother, and short-order cook for 10 kids, she enjoyed watching Bill Alexander, the predecessor of Bob Ross. She like learning how to paint happy little trees. It was a well-deserved break.
She enjoyed singing and, although she wasn’t known as a particularly gifted singer, in her genuine humility she knew it and was not afraid to laugh at herself. She thoroughly enjoyed one of life’s simplest but greatest gifts, the gift of laughter, which she shared generously with everyone. She laughed easily and had a way of making life fun, and funny in simple ways.
She also played the piano, although really only one song - Annie Laurie. This talent was passed on to her children, with several becoming amateur musicians and two becoming professional pianists.
When her children grew up and began to marry (in bunches!), she decided to take a cake decorating class and provided delicious and beautiful cakes for many weddings. When grandchildren began to come along she was always ready to come over and help. Her rich experience with babies and her loving, generous heart brought much joy and happy memories to growing families.
In 1994 Art and Audrey finally sold the Ballard house and started looking for somewhere to live. They ended up in Coeur d’ Alene, Idaho for the next 5 years, enjoying the natural beauty of the area as well as the fun times having their children and grandchildren visit. Art’s declining health necessitated a return to the Seattle area. They eventually settled in Dupont at a semi-assisted living facility. Sadly, after a fall and complications following surgery, Art passed away in 2006. Audrey went to live with her son Fred and continued to enjoy special times with her ever-growing family.
After a few years her memory began to deteriorate and progressed to the point where she began to need extra care. She moved to an assisted living facility in Gig Harbor. After a fall and rehabilitation, she moved to an adult family care home in Tacoma, close to her daughter and son, where she was well cared for and regularly visited by her children, grandchildren and great-grandchildren.
Even as her memory gradually failed her, and she became very frail, she never lost the sweet, gentle and cheerful disposition that was the hallmark of her life. For that, and for all the generous love she gave to her family for so many years, we are eternally grateful.
Audrey was preceded in death by her husband of 57 years, Art, her brother, and her sisters.
She is survived by her children David (Sheryl), Gary (Kathy), Chris (Marianne), Dan, Fred, Alan (Maureen), Art (Kati), Tim (Dianne), Wil (Vanessa) and Diane (Jim).
Her grandchildren: David, Lisa, Matt, Alison, Wendy, Dennis, Nanette, Luke, Andy, Mark, Amy Evy, Patricia, Tony, John-Paul, Dominic, Andrew Stephen, Michaela, Jacob, Joseph, Lauren, Paul, Claire, Kevin, Greg, Katie, Marty, Nathan, Joshua, Erica, Anthony, Alex, Carrie, Michael, Eric, Stephen and Bryan.
Great-grandchildren: Garrett, Corbin, Alexander, Jon, Zach, Olivia, Ty, Beau, Kelsey, Tegan, Aspen, Fox, Remy, Nick, Jack, Luke, Miles, Audrey, Samuel, James, Lisbon, Jones, Gavyn, Evelyn, Alexander, Declan, Taylor, Indiana, Leila, Hannah, Rhea, Nora, Baby-on-the-way, Reid, Grace, Alexander, Zoe, Van, and 7 great-great-grandchildren.
She passed peacefully from this life to eternal life with her Savior on June 11th, 2019 in University Place, Washington.
She will be dearly missed and fondly remembered by her large family for her sweetness, humility, gentleness and unfailing kindness.
Audrey grew up in New Jersey with her brother Fred and her two sisters Marilyn and Janet. Following WW II she went through nurses training at Backus Hospital in Norwich, Connecticut. Near the end of her time in school she caught the eye of a young Army Air Corps pilot, Lt Art Arpin. He was enchanted by this dark-haired beauty with the radiant smile. They were married on August 27th, 1949 and soon began raising their family.
In 1954, while in the middle of building a new house in Connecticut, they received an offer from someone interested in buying it. They decided to sell, bought a station wagon and a trailer, packed up the four boys and headed west. A long way west.
A few thousand miles later they settled in Portland, Oregon. Two more boys were born there before Dad found a better job in Seattle. They settled down in the Ballard neighborhood where they would remain for the next 36 years.
Three more boys came along, then, to everyone’s surprise, a baby girl. It was such news that it even made the front page of the Seattle Post-Intelligencer. A family picture with the headline: “Nine brothers joined by baby sister”.
Having earned her RN, Audrey worked for many years as a nurse at Ballard Hospital, usually working a night shift in order to be home with her children in the daytime. She occasionally found some time to sleep. Later she worked as an elder care nurse at the Norse Home. She was always very dedicated to the care of her patients. Once, at Ballard Hospital she had a patient who got the hiccups following abdominal surgery and couldn’t get rid of them for several days. Mom finally came up with the cure - a spoonful of peanut butter, a remedy she swore by ever after.
At home, her nursing skills combined with her kind heart made life much easier for her kids anytime they got sick. And in a large family when one gets sick, several more usually follow.
Audrey and Art spent many happy times together sailing and exploring the waters of Puget Sound. They especially loved trips to the San Juan Islands. They travelled back to the East coast and Bermuda to visit relatives and enjoyed several vacations in Hawaii. The whole family took many summer vacations to Birch Bay, with wonderful days kayaking, swimming, roaming the tide flats, digging clams, catching crabs and enjoying the meals she lovingly prepared for us.
She enjoyed simple pleasures in life, knitting, crafts and painting. Taking a daily break from her busy day as wife, mother, and short-order cook for 10 kids, she enjoyed watching Bill Alexander, the predecessor of Bob Ross. She like learning how to paint happy little trees. It was a well-deserved break.
She enjoyed singing and, although she wasn’t known as a particularly gifted singer, in her genuine humility she knew it and was not afraid to laugh at herself. She thoroughly enjoyed one of life’s simplest but greatest gifts, the gift of laughter, which she shared generously with everyone. She laughed easily and had a way of making life fun, and funny in simple ways.
She also played the piano, although really only one song - Annie Laurie. This talent was passed on to her children, with several becoming amateur musicians and two becoming professional pianists.
When her children grew up and began to marry (in bunches!), she decided to take a cake decorating class and provided delicious and beautiful cakes for many weddings. When grandchildren began to come along she was always ready to come over and help. Her rich experience with babies and her loving, generous heart brought much joy and happy memories to growing families.
In 1994 Art and Audrey finally sold the Ballard house and started looking for somewhere to live. They ended up in Coeur d’ Alene, Idaho for the next 5 years, enjoying the natural beauty of the area as well as the fun times having their children and grandchildren visit. Art’s declining health necessitated a return to the Seattle area. They eventually settled in Dupont at a semi-assisted living facility. Sadly, after a fall and complications following surgery, Art passed away in 2006. Audrey went to live with her son Fred and continued to enjoy special times with her ever-growing family.
After a few years her memory began to deteriorate and progressed to the point where she began to need extra care. She moved to an assisted living facility in Gig Harbor. After a fall and rehabilitation, she moved to an adult family care home in Tacoma, close to her daughter and son, where she was well cared for and regularly visited by her children, grandchildren and great-grandchildren.
Even as her memory gradually failed her, and she became very frail, she never lost the sweet, gentle and cheerful disposition that was the hallmark of her life. For that, and for all the generous love she gave to her family for so many years, we are eternally grateful.
Audrey was preceded in death by her husband of 57 years, Art, her brother, and her sisters.
She is survived by her children David (Sheryl), Gary (Kathy), Chris (Marianne), Dan, Fred, Alan (Maureen), Art (Kati), Tim (Dianne), Wil (Vanessa) and Diane (Jim).
Her grandchildren: David, Lisa, Matt, Alison, Wendy, Dennis, Nanette, Luke, Andy, Mark, Amy Evy, Patricia, Tony, John-Paul, Dominic, Andrew Stephen, Michaela, Jacob, Joseph, Lauren, Paul, Claire, Kevin, Greg, Katie, Marty, Nathan, Joshua, Erica, Anthony, Alex, Carrie, Michael, Eric, Stephen and Bryan.
Great-grandchildren: Garrett, Corbin, Alexander, Jon, Zach, Olivia, Ty, Beau, Kelsey, Tegan, Aspen, Fox, Remy, Nick, Jack, Luke, Miles, Audrey, Samuel, James, Lisbon, Jones, Gavyn, Evelyn, Alexander, Declan, Taylor, Indiana, Leila, Hannah, Rhea, Nora, Baby-on-the-way, Reid, Grace, Alexander, Zoe, Van, and 7 great-great-grandchildren.
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