Audrey Etie Richardson

Audrey E. Richardson died in the first hour of, April 3, 2021 ending a long, well-lived life of love, caring and fun.  Born January 20,1923 in the small town of New Iberia, Louisiana she was the daughter of Robert Etie, a butcher, and Veda Dugan, homemaker.  She excelled in school and graduated from the local high school as Salutatorian at 16.  She worked at the local creamery as a carhop and later office assistant before attending Hotel Dieu nursing school in New Orleans.  She spoke often of the life-long friends she made and life-altering experiences she gained in those formative years. 

Wanting to see the world and contribute to the war effort she became a Navy nurse hoping to serve on a hospital ship.  Too late she learned that it was the Army that had hospital ships and she spent her service at the Naval hospital in Charleston, NC.  True to form, she loved her work there.  She told many stories of the young men she nursed and the challenges they faced but also of dancing all night at the Officer’s Club and trips to the Carolina coast.  She met her husband, George Richardson, a Coast Guard officer, at the O Club.  Thiers’s was a long, loving and exciting life that took them around the world but always back home to the south.

Audrey used her nursing skills serving as the school nurse for most of her 4 children’s school careers.  She also was a Cub Scout den mother, committed member of the Altar Society and officer of the PTA year after year.  She threw her considerable energy and talents into so many church and school activities.  She was a volunteer at St. John Vianney’s charity shop, Joseph’s Coat, for 25 years retiring in her 90s when the cash register got too complicated for her. In addition, she was the perfect hostess for her husband’s advancing career, teaching herself to be a first-rate cook and party planner.   She loved entertaining and her home was the scene of many great parties and celebrations. 

Audrey loved to play games of any kind but cards were her favorite.  Weekly poker nights with friends and neighbors were a constant. She and George would save all year for an annual weekend trip to Las Vegas with friends.  In the early days they never had lots of money to gamble with but she usually managed to win enough to buy one treat before returning home.  This was a tradition she continued well into her 80s traveling with her son-in-law and eventually her 3 grandsons as each turned 21.  It seemed appropriate since she had taught them all to count playing Black Jack.  She was playing games with friends at her retirement community the night before she died. 

Monday night and Sunday afternoons were dedicated to football.  She was an avid Saints fan and followed the careers of her favorite players carefully.  Over the years she’d followed the Oilers as well attending as many games as she could. 

Hers was a life of family, friends, good fun, but also commitment and hard work.  She brought her considerable talents and intelligence to bear in everything she did with the attitude that you could do anything you were willing to work at.  And she proved it day after day.  Her four children, Bob, Ann, Georgia and George, were the primary beneficiaries of her efforts.  She was always there for them ready to lend a hand or offer advice when asked.  Her 3 grandchildren, Adam, Lee and Zachary had the good fortune to really know her and spend time with her.  Her great-grandchildren, Ayla, Ella and Remy won’t get that chance but Audrey and George stories will feature prominently in their up-brining.   All miss her presence in their lives.

No memorial service is planned per her request.  The family will place her ashes with George’s at their parish church in New Iberia in the fall.  If you wish to offer some tribute to Audrey, donations to her church, St. John Vianney, in Houston would be appreciated.  Or you could enjoy a few minutes playing your favorite game of chance in her memory.  She’d love either.