Update:  All family & friends are invited to the graveside Celebration of Life for Audrey McKeand on Thursday, July 27 at 2:00 p.m. in the Garden of Christus at Prince Albert Memorial Gardens.  We thank Reverend Nora Vedress and Dave Monette for assisting our family during this Celebration.

Fellowship & reminiscing will follow at Smitty’s Family Restaurant in the back meeting room.  A variety of refreshments & desserts will be served.

Audrey Amelia McKeand (Falhun) (nee Mallett)

It is with sadness and love that we announce the merciful passing of our mother Audrey Amelia McKeand on November 24, 2022 in her 100^th year.

Audrey was born in Mowbray, Cape Town, South Africa.  Her family returned to live in London, England when Audrey was a youngster.  She loved her school days at Stanhope School and Coston School where she achieved top grades in all subjects and excelled at team sports.  Her carefree ways as a young English woman ended abruptly with the onslaught of WWII.  Audrey volunteered for service with the Auxiliary Territorial Service – Royal Corps of Signals.  Because of her prior experience as a switchboard operator, Audrey was selected for training as a radio operator and undertook Special Operator Training which led to her posting to secret radio intercept locations along the eastern coast of England from 1940 to 1944.

It was during this time that she met a young Canadian Intelligence Officer from White Star, Saskatchewan, serving overseas with the Regina Rifles Regiment.  Their love for one another flourished and they eventually got leave to marry in May of 1944.  Tragically he was killed shortly after, on June 6, 1944 during the D-Day troop landings at Juno Beach.

Damaged by the cruelty of war Mum left England, boarding the ship Aquitania in 1946 for passage to Canada, as a war widow.  She was welcomed by family and the community in White Star and found home for a time.

Eventually Mum moved from the countryside into Prince Albert, SK and found familiar employment at the old Victoria Union Hospital in the office on the telephone switchboard.  She was also fortunate to have found the love of another good man.  Mum married our Dad in April of 1949 and the love of her family, her love for her children and her new home made life good.

Mum loved good music, good movies, good times at the theatre, strong tea, the company of family & friends and Hawaiian pizza!  She was a snappy dresser and had amazingly thick, wavy hair which she maintained to the end.  She loved to discuss current world affairs as reading the newspapers was part of her daily routine.  She remained a switchboard operator throughout her career at Robert Simpsons and Eaton’s department stores in Regina, SK, making many great friends along the way.  After retirement Audrey enjoyed travelling the world with these friends.

Audrey enthusiastically engaged in a century of adventure always remaining active with sewing, knitting, bowling, baking, creating ceramics, gardening & aerobics!  She loved the summer sun and planting flowers.  She took classes through the University of Regina Extension Dept., understanding the importance of continuing education, a value that she instilled in her daughters.

Audrey is survived by her daughters Marion, Barbara and Pamela McKeand.  Her five grandchildren Carolyn (Jarrett) Bodie, Allison Saretsky, Whit (Catherine) Saretsky, Mason Clement, Dana (Halim) Souki.  Also, her much loved great granddaughters, Tori, Lillian and Jenna and great grandsons Kian & Collin (Denise McElwaine), Elijah, Edward, and Jake.

Audrey was predeceased by her former husband and father of her three daughters Edward (Ted) McKeand.  She was also predeceased by her husband Sgt. Isadore L. Falhun, her parents Mildred & William Mallett, her sister Vera (Ralph) Holder and her beloved grandson Matthew McElwaine.

A special thank you to the caring staff members at Shepherd’s Care Millwood’s Campus in Edmonton for your kindness, patience & love.

South Side Memorial Chapel in Edmonton is responsible for immediate arrangements.

Condolences may be sent to the family at www.southsidememorial.com

A graveside Celebration of Life with family & friends will take place at Prince Albert Memorial Gardens in Prince Albert, SK during the summer of 2023.

• Date : 2022-11-24