Obituary - Audrey Viola Pearle (March 22, 1948 - January 8, 2024)

It is with a heavy heart that her family announces that Audrey Pearle, of Kentville, NS, has passed away on January 8th, 2024 in Orchard Court Senior Care Facility in Kentville. Born at Soldiers Memorial Hospital in Middleton, NS on March 22, 1948, she was the youngest daughter of the late Edward and Ellen Smith, of Nictaux, NS.

Audrey attended the Nova Scotia Institute of Technology after graduating from Middleton Regional High School, and was trained as a medical laboratory technician. In her first career, Audrey worked at the Nova Scotia Pathology Lab in Halifax. Following the birth of her second of two boys, she stepped away from this work to raise her family, in Ardoise, NS.
Once her two sons finished high school, Audrey returned to school, first obtaining an accounting qualification. She prepared income taxes for friends, family and neighbours for many years, though in her heart, she was always most interested in caring for others, which led her back to school to qualify as a PCW (Personal Care Worker), a job now known as a CCA (Continuing Care Assistant). In that capacity, Audrey worked for 20 years at the Windsor Elms (both old and new facilities) in Windsor, NS. She resided in Windsor, NS for all of those years as well, and was known fondly by many residents.

In her time outside of work, Audrey was an avid reader, a particularly huge fan of the works of Stephen King. She was also a lover of puzzles, and spent long hours deriving great pleasure from solving cryptoquotes, sudokus and crosswords. Aside from caring for others, Audrey was also an extremely talented crafter. She was skilled at knitting, crochet, embroidery, toll painting and a number of other handicrafts. Many of her friends and family received homemade gifts from Audrey over the years.

In recent years, her need for care led her to live with her youngest son, Kevin, in Kentville, NS, where she was elated to have the company of a dog and a cat. Having grown up on a farm, and having had many pets over the years, having fur babies as her constant companion truly made her happy.

Audrey spent the final year of her life in the excellent care of the staff of Orchard Court Senior Care Facility in Kentville, NS. While there, she was part of a loving, fun group of other senior citizens who she laughed, ate, walked and played BINGO with, among other things. The family would like to extend their heartfelt thanks to the staff at Orchard Court for their warmth and kindness towards Audrey and for making the final year of her life a comfortable one.

Audrey was predeceased by Edward Smith and Ellen (Morine) Smith, ex-husband Del Pearle, granddaughter Sara Pearle, brother Eddie Smith, sisters Doris (Smith) Chipman and Carol (Smith) Marshall, brother-in-law Eero Halinen and nephew Dwayne Marshall. She is survived by her oldest son Dean Pearle and grandson Keith Pearle, son Kevin Pearle and daughter-in-law Don Pearle, sisters June (Smith) Halinen, Peggy (Smith) Schaffner and husband Albert Schaffner, sister-in-law Theresa (Wedge) Grandy as well as numerous nieces, nephews and cousins.

Her body has been cremated, as per her wishes. A Celebration of Life Ceremony will take place at the Three Mile Plains Community Hall at 4471, Highway 1 in Three Mile Plains, West Hants on January 26th from 2 to 4 PM. Family and friends are invited to share memories and stories about Audrey. Her ashes will be scattered at a later date, over the fertile soil of the Annapolis Valley where she grew up and had many happy memories of a childhood spent surrounded by a loving family and a tight knit community.

Donations in Audrey’s memory may be made to the Alzheimer Society of Nova Scotia. For those unable to attend the Celebration of Life, notes of condolence for the family may be left at https://eirenecremations.com/memorials/page/Audrey-Pearle-e9hM9