Audrey Jean McCarthy
Audrey Jean (nee Legois) McCarthy of Western Springs passed away peacefully on December 22, 2021 in Madison, Connecticut. Born on November 29, 1928 in Kingsford, Michigan to Richard and Marie Legois, Audrey was many things in her life: wife, mother, daughter, sister, May Queen, Rock Island Railroad clerk, business owner, aquasize queen, avid bowler, devoted friend and lifelong devout Catholic.
She was a loving wife to the late Raymond J. McCarthy (1925-1986) and wholly devoted mother to Daniel, Dr. Richard (Mary), James, Michael (Cathleen), the late Raymond (1958-2005) (Janet) and Barbara, and a mother figure to many of her children’s friends and her nieces and nephews. Proud Grandma to Shannon (Dan) Leventhal, Marisa McCarthy, Brendan McCarthy, Sarah (Bill) Pask and Doyle (Lauren) McCarthy. Proudest Great-Grandmother (aka GG Audrey) to Joshua Leventhal and Sutton Pask.
She was a provider of whatever her family and friends needed: good times, a shoulder to cry on, maker of peace, bottom line honesty (served with kindness), giggle fits, the best cheese potatoes you could ever imagine and endless love always. And she made a great Southern Comfort Old Fashioned (way before it was trendy). Really, she was famous for her Old Fashioneds and we encourage all who knew her to have one in her memory. She passed her passions on to her children, most notably her socialist tendencies and love of movies, travel, Rock Hudson, rabbits in the backyard, Christmas lights and the Green Bay Packers (well, to half her children. Dad and the Bears got the other half). She was her family’s North Star, modeling humility and devotion in her daily care for her son with special needs into her 90’s. Although her childhood was shaped by the Depression and WW2, she lived a wonderful life to the fullest, traveling the world with her husband and then with her children, seeing her sons get advanced degrees, inspiring an entire restaurant full of Londoners to sing ‘As Time Goes By’ on New Year’s Eve, being serenaded by Mandy Patinkin, becoming cruise buddies with Jeff Foxworthy, driving with the top down along the Pacific Coast Highway with her cherished girlfriends, going to Hollywood movie premieres and, most importantly to her, being at every graduation, wedding and celebration her family ever had. Her smile and cheer stayed intact despite the many challenges and losses thrust upon her. Our family takes solace in the fact that she now is with her beloved Raymonds. We are hopeful that, at the last, she drifted off to sleep in the same way we did when she rocked us in her arms and serenaded us with “Don’t Fence Me In,” in a lovely mezzo that soothed us and made us proud. “She was an angel in the shape of our Mom and when God took her back He said Hallelujah, you’re home’.”
Audrey will be interred alongside her husband Raymond at Queen of Heaven Cemetery, Hillside on New Year’s Eve. Her funeral Mass will be at her parish of fifty-seven years, St. John of the Cross, Western Springs, on a date yet to be scheduled in the summer of 2022.
Arrangements entrusted to Hallowell & James Funeral Home, Countryside at 708-352-6500.
Thanking God yesterday, today and all of my tomorrows for my Dear Aunt Audrey from her sister LaVern’s daughter. Remembering those Up North lake cottage days when the siblings kids were little. Oh my gosh, falling asleep all over the floors in sleeping bags watching the fireplace embers … picking wild blueberries …. tipping canoes … precious.
To all of my McCarthy cousins: I’m truly saddened with the loss of Aunt Audrey (who was also my Godmother). She always let me know she loved me even though we lived in different states my entire life. I’ll never forget the times we spent together as children, playing, swimming, and enjoying our time together. May God bless and keep you all. I’m hopeful to be present this summer for her Mass.
Cheryl 🙏
Our condolences to all of you on the loss of your loving mother and our dear Aunt. Our thoughts and prayers are with you all. She will be missed!
Love,
The “other” McCarthy Family
My condolences to the family. Thinking of you Dan and sending love and prayers during this difficult time.
Your Mom was a rare and lovely soul and there will never be another like her. I feel so fortunate to have known her warm smile and her welcoming, generous nature for nearly my entire life. I hope your family finds peace and knows that those we love never truly leave us. I will be thinking of you all and sending prayers for your family at this time of immeasurable loss.
I will remember Mrs. McCarthy as a woman filled with kindness and good cheer. Each time I saw her, she welcomed me into her home with great warmth and good humor. She always had a smile for me. She always left me with a sense that, while the world is what it is, we who live in it can and should make it better for each other – a triumph of the responsibility to hope. I wish for all of her family the continued renewal of the peace and love of her example.
Condolences to the family. I have never met Mother McCarthy but Dennis & Diane who are friends of Danny have told me some things about her independent spirit. Losing a parent is a milestone in life. May you receive comfort from friends, family and your faith.