Obituary of Audrey Agnes Nielsen

Audrey Agnes Nielsen

(March 19, 1955 - February 16, 2024)

Audrey Agnes Nielsen of Camrose, Alberta, passed away on Friday, February 16, 2024 at the age of 68 years.

Audrey Agnes Nielsen (nee Bjorge) was born at St. Mary’s hospital in Camrose, Alberta on March 19, 1955 to parents Marvin and Norma Bjorge. She was the youngest sibling of older brothers Harold and Myron, older sister Joan, and a fifth sister Dorothy who sadly died shortly after birth. 

 Audrey’s childhood memories growing up on the farm in Bawlf, Alberta are rich with many animals big and small, who always held a special place in her heart. These included many batches of kittens, dogs, calves, and her pony Pixie. Audrey and Pixie, together with Joan and her pony Twinkle-toes, found themselves on numerous adventures – often ending up wet or dirty, but always arriving home safely with many new stories to tell. She was an active member of the 4-H club where she learned about feeding, grooming, and showing beef cattle. Audrey always looked up to her older siblings, with many memories of exciting trips to Camrose for pop and ice cream or to Edmonton in Harold’s 1966 Plymouth Valiant. 

After finishing grade 12, Audrey started working at the Camrose Credit union where she would stay for the next 13½ years. During this time, she was able to travel somewhere exotic with a close group of friends nearly every year. During her time at the Credit Union she met her husband Lars, who was the Grocery Manager at the Camrose Coop store just down the street. Audrey and Lars were married in 1986 and they settled in together with Lars’s cat Rupert, who was firmly attached to Lars and viewed Audrey as a rival for attention. Over time, Rupert was able to accept another animal-lover into their home-fondly welcoming the extra attention. A few years later, their family was made complete with two children, who were the center of Audrey’s world. The family was able to move to a large acreage near Camrose filled with all sorts of animals including cats, dogs, chickens, sheep, cattle, ponies….the list goes on! Some favorites included a Collie – “Keta”, a diabetic cat – “Boots”, and two Pomeranians – “Hurley” and “Bear”.
Much of Audrey’s professional life was devoted to providing loving and compassionate care to many of Camrose’ senior citizens during over 20 years as a Health Care Aide at The Bethany Group. Her love for all humankind shone brightly during her time at Bethany, where she went above and beyond typical duties to ensure “her” residents received the absolute best care possible right to the final moments of life. 

Throughout Audrey’s retirement, she found absolute joy in spending as much time as possible with her grandchildren – Peyton and Brynlee as well as her family, friends, and “furry” family. She was also able to continue travelling, with trips to the U.K., Denmark, Hawaii, and the United States as well as countless trips to the Ferry Point area. 

Left to Cherish Audrey’s memory are husband Lars Nielsen; children Karsten Nielsen (Kaitlyn) and Katrina Stuckey (Chris); two grandchildren; brother Harold Bjorge; and sister Joan Stavne. Audrey was predeceased by her parents Marvin and Norma Bjorge; brother Myron Bjorge; and sister Dorothy Bjorge.
 

A Funeral Service was held at 1:00 p.m., Monday, February 26, 2024 at the Messiah Lutheran Church, 4810 - 50th Street Camrose officiated Rev. Bev Swanson. 

If family and friends so desire, memorial contributions in Audrey's memory may be made to Ferry Point Historical Society or to The Bethany Group.