Audrey Bean

Audrey was born in Ottawa, Ontario, daughter of Wilfrid and Lorain Bean and sister to Franny Preston and Peter Bean. Audrey lived many of her growing up years in Ottawa. In addition, as part of an Air Force family, she spent 3 years in Kingston and 2 very happy years in Germany. While there, she was a student at the University of Strasbourg, taking a French Civilization course for one year. In her early 20s Audrey moved to Montreal, the place she would call home for the rest of her life. She worked initially at the McGill Library, then at Heritage Montreal, before returning to McGill to begin a consulting career at STS Associates. During these years she completed a 3 year program at Dawson College and attended McGill Law School for one year, before she decided the law was not for her. As a consultant with STS Associates, Audrey worked with many large corporations, helping them to redesign their socio-technical systems and improve the quality of working life for employees. Audrey's passion, however, resided with the numerous causes for which she worked tirelessly. From Save Montreal to the Unity Campaign, from saving the CBC to Empty Bowls, Audrey committed her intelligence and her energy to seeing positive change happen. For at least 20 years, she was involved with L'Abri en Ville, an organization devoted to providing a stable and fulfilling environment for persons living with a mental illness through safe and affordable housing. She was an active board member, as well as an energetic, enthusiastic and involved volunteer. Audrey was married to John Knowles, the love of her life, for 32 years. She and John sailed their boat through the waterways of eastern Canada every summer. They loved to play music with their circle of friends, most of whom lived either in Montreal or in Nova Scotia. They eventually bought property in Nova Scotia to be close to John's son (Peter), daughter-in-law (Julie) and two granddaughters (Caitlin and Erin). Audrey's devotion to this family was deep and abiding. Audrey was also godmother to many of her friends' children including Katie Bird, Sam Shirley and Sylvan Lanken. She was "heart mother" to many more. When John died in 2013, Audrey turned to the challenge of refocusing her energy and the sense of purpose in her life. Fourteen months later however, she was diagnosed with metastatic cancer and given only several months to live. As word spread it became evident that Audrey had played a pivotal role in the lives of many. Her empathy, deep capacity to listen, loyalty, grace, hospitality, humour and luminous intelligence had become a touchstone for so many people, and expressions of grief and gratitude poured in. True to her nature, she continued to spend her time thinking of what others needed right until the end. Audrey will be remembered and missed by her brother, Peter (Anthea) and sister, Franny (Bill); stepson Peter and daughter-in-law Julie; granddaughters, Erin and Caitlin; nephews, Jeff Bean (Lindsay) and David Bean (Lara); their children; her Knowles nieces and nephews; her godchildren, heart children and the many, many friends who loved her. Our thanks for the respectful and compassionate care extended to Audrey and her family by the CLSC Metro palliative care team, Nova Montreal and Sainte-Elisabeth Health Care. If you wish, please send a donation to L'Abri en Ville, 2100 Marlowe Ave., Montreal, QC H4A 3L5. A Memorial Service will take place Sunday, May 10, 2015 at 3 p.m. at: Unitarian Church of Montreal, 5035 Boulevard de Maisonneuve O. (corner Claremont and de Maisonneuve), Westmount, Quebec.