She was the first born child of the late Harry W. and Freddie Mae Nelson. Born on October 8, 1938, Audrey attended Yonkers Public Schools, graduating from Commerce High School‘s Secretarial Program in 1956. Upon graduating, Audrey was immediately recruited by several area businesses - the Mutual of New York Insurance Company in Manhattan is where she began her career as a Secretary. After working at Mutual for some time, she went to work for New York State and the Proctor Paint company in Yonkers, NY. Always before her time - yet still undecided about her future, Audrey took and passed the Yonkers Police exam with high marks. Though not called by the City, she found her place with the United States Post Office. Audrey gave more than 20 years of dedicated service to the Main Street Branch in Yonkers in several positions over the years from driver to window clerk. A fall on her way to work forced her to finally retire and spend more time doing the things she loved most. Audrey had a passion for good music, especially jazz and she was a huge Jeopardy fan. She loved crossword puzzles and her ice cream. But most of all she loved being a Daughter, Big Sister, Cousin, Aunt, Friend and Mom to her entire family, both immediate and extended. She loved nothing more than being surrounded by her family and friends – the more, the merrier in her book. She kept everyone connected, young and old, near and far. Audrey took her role as the family matriarch to heart - showing and telling us, with a daily or weekly call - lest we forget – that real family is about more than a word. Yes she always teased us with her status as the head, but she truly took it to heart….she was always, in every instance and every way was there for us as she expected us to be for each other. Because there are not enough words to aptly describe the Woman that we all know and love, we will celebrate her life by remaining connected in her honor.
Audrey will truly be missed by many. She is survived by two sisters Barbara (Terry) Smyer of Yonkers, NY, Fredericka (Joseph) Randall of the Bronx, NY. Cousins; Arthur (Juanita) Gill, Brenda E. Johnson, Ronald “Ronnie” (Betty) Manning, Stephen “Pete” (Wanda) Johnson, Claudia Nelson Ramey, Lenore Soto, Joanie (Charles) Miller.2 Nieces, Akim (Anthony) Smyer-Campbell, Kwafi (Alexander) Gray, 3 Nephews: Kwame (Kadijah) Randall and Kareem (Shaneeta) Randall and Duncan Nix. 16 Great Nieces & Nephews, 1 Great Great Niece and a host of family and friends remain to find comfort in their memories in celebration of the life and times of Audrey. Audrey was predeceased by her parents Harry & Freddie, her sisters Mary N. Aiken and Dorothy L. Nelson, Aunts; Hazel Johnson, Ruth Braxton, Versie J. Webb and Dorothy J. Gill, Uncles; Steven Webb, George and Arthur Nelson and Arthur Gill Sr., Cousins; Frederick Gill Sr., Robert Nelson, George (Busty) Webb, Sandra & James King, Novella Nelson and Danita M. Gill. Visitation will be at Whalen & Ball Funeral Home Thursday 2-4 and 6-9pm. Funeral services will be Friday 11:00am at the funeral home.Interment will follow at the Mt. Hope Cemetery.
Whalen & Ball Funeral Home 168 Park Avenue Yonkers, NY. 10703 Telephone (914) 965-5488. www.whalenandballfh.com.Audrey Nelson Dessesaure, a well known, well loved, lifelong resident of Yonkers, NY departed this earth on Tuesday, October 29, 2019. She was the first born child of the late Harry W. and Freddie Mae Nelson. Born on October 8, 1938, Audrey attended Yonkers Public Schools, graduating from Commerce High School‘s Secretarial Program in 1956. Upon graduating, Audrey was immediately recruited by several area businesses - the Mutual of New York Insurance Company in Manhattan is where she began her career as a Secretary. After working at Mutual for some time, she went to work for New York State and the Proctor Paint company in Yonkers, NY. Always before her time - yet still undecided about her future, Audrey took and passed the Yonkers Police exam with high marks. Though not called by the City, she found her place with the United States Post Office. Audrey gave more than 20 years of dedicated service to the Main Street Branch in Yonkers in several positions over the years from driver to window clerk. A fall on her way to work forced her to finally retire and spend more time doing the things she loved most. Audrey had a passion for good music, especially jazz and she was a huge Jeopardy fan. She loved crossword puzzles and her ice cream. But most of all she loved being a Daughter, Big Sister, Cousin, Aunt, Friend and Mom to her entire family, both immediate and extended. She loved nothing more than being surrounded by her family and friends – the more, the merrier in her book. She kept everyone connected, young and old, near and far. Audrey took her role as the family matriarch to heart - showing and telling us, with a daily or weekly call - lest we forget – that real family is about more than a word. Yes she always teased us with her status as the head, but she truly took it to heart….she was always, in every instance and every way was there for us as she expected us to be for each other. Because there are not enough words to aptly describe the Woman that we all know and love, we will celebrate her life by remaining connected in her honor.
Audrey will truly be missed by many. She is survived by two sisters Barbara (Terry) Smyer of Yonkers, NY, Fredericka (Joseph) Randall of the Bronx, NY. Cousins; Arthur (Juanita) Gill, Brenda E. Johnson, Ronald “Ronnie” (Betty) Manning, Stephen “Pete” (Wanda) Johnson, Claudia Nelson Ramey, Lenore Soto, Joanie (Charles) Miller.2 Nieces, Akim (Anthony) Smyer-Campbell, Kwafi (Alexander) Gray, 3 Nephews: Kwame (Kadijah) Randall and Kareem (Shaneeta) Randall and Duncan Nix. 16 Great Nieces & Nephews, 1 Great Great Niece and a host of family and friends remain to find comfort in their memories in celebration of the life and times of Audrey. Audrey was predeceased by her parents Harry & Freddie, her sisters Mary N. Aiken and Dorothy L. Nelson, Aunts; Hazel Johnson, Ruth Braxton, Versie J. Webb and Dorothy J. Gill, Uncles; Steven Webb, George and Arthur Nelson and Arthur Gill Sr., Cousins; Frederick Gill Sr., Robert Nelson, George (Busty) Webb, Sandra & James King, Novella Nelson and Danita M. Gill. Visitation will be at Whalen & Ball Funeral Home Thursday 2-4 and 6-9pm. Funeral services will be Friday 11:00am at the funeral home.Interment will follow at the Mt. Hope Cemetery.Whalen & Ball Funeral Home 168 Park Avenue Yonkers, NY. 10703 Telephone (914) 965-5488. www.whalenandballfh.com.
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