WORCESTER-Audra Marie (Brownell) Smolens Ward died at Holy Trinity Nursing and Rehabilitation Center on Friday, October 29th. She was just eleven days shy of her 97th birthday.
Audra leaves a son, George “Bud” Smolens of Phoenix, AZ; a daughter, Joyce Murphy of Worcester, MA; five grandchildren: Scott Smolens and his wife Rhezalyn of Singapore, Michael Smolens and his wife Catherine of Glen Mills, PA, Cynthia Daugherty and her husband Eric of Phoenix, AZ, Brendan Murphy and his wife Kristen of Rochester, NY, and Daniel Murphy of Worcester, MA. She also leaves five great-grandchildren; two nieces: Jayne Mickle of Schenectady, NY, and Dorée Zurich of Syracuse, NY; and one nephew, Conrad Zurich and his wife Linda of Fayetteville, NY, as well as her very dear friends the Larry Wink family of the Syracuse, NY area and Coronado, CA.
Audra was predeceased by her three siblings, Gertrude Smith, Edith Zurich, and Charles Brownell; her first husband, George “Bud” Pierce Smolens; two nieces: Marjorie Murray and Charlotte Logan; and her best friend Frances Wink.
Audra was born in Morris, NY, the youngest child of Maybelle (Flagg) and Maurice Brownell. Her family moved to Richfield Springs, NY when she was quite young, and she grew up there. As a child she was very active and spunky, qualities which stayed with her throughout her life. In high school she played guard on the girls’ basketball team and later joined a women’s swim club. She loved music and dancing. She was a graduate of Richfield Springs High School.
Audra’s first husband, George “Bud” Pierce Smolens joined the Marine Corps in WWII and fought in the battle of Iwo Jima with the 4th Pioneer Battalion, 4th Marine Division. Six months after returning home he died tragically, leaving her with two young children to raise and educate. She worked hard as a waitress and store clerk to keep her family together and support the children through college.
Audra lost her only brother, Charlie, in a drowning accident when he was twenty-two. Her mother, Maybelle, died just two months later, one day after Audra’s 20th birthday. Of her mother, she would often say, “She died of a broken heart.” These were the deepest sorrows of Audra’s life.
We will always love you and miss you, Mom, Grandmother (“Mur-mur”), and Great-Grandma Audra.
Our family extends heartfelt thanks to the staff of Holy Trinity Nursing and Rehabilitation Center and to the Holy Trinity Hospice team for the loving care given over these past years and months.
A memorial service will be held on Friday, November 5th at 1:00 PM in Ellen Rogers Kennedy Memorial Chapel at Rural Cemetery, 180 Grove Street, Worcester. Burial will follow in the cemetery. O’CONNOR BROTHERS FUNERAL HOME, 592 Park Avenue, is directing arrangements.