Audrey R. Hodgkinson

The truly Beautiful inside and out woman, Audrey Ruth Hodgkinson was born October 27, 1933 to Henry and Sadie Mouthaan in Grant Michigan. She and her brothers and sisters ,Bob,Paul, MaeRita, Virginia, and Emily grew up on the farm where she developed a strong work ethic. She also knew that weeding onions and farming were not her occupation of choice. In 1951 she moved to Chicago, Illinois where she attended Swedish Covenant Hospital School of Nursing. After graduating in 1954, she worked as a surgical nurse at Swedish Covenant Hospital. She was on the surgical team for the first open heart surgery at Swedish Covenant.

On Easter Sunday 1955, she went to a sunrise service sponsored by Ravenswood Covenant Church. There she met a guy who asked her to go see the U5 submarine at the Museum of Science and Industry. She accepted that date from Walter “Bud” Hodgkinson and the rest was history. They were married 5 months later on October 1, 1955. Their love story had God as it’s center, and was filled with unconditional acceptance and freedom to be themselves. In October of 2020 they celebrated their 65th wedding anniversary . They were always seen holding hands, a symbol of their oneness.

They were blessed with three children, Lisa, Donald and Philip.

After working at Swedish Covenant she began working at Booth Hospital, the Salvation Army’s Home for unwed mothers. During that time she found what ended up being her passion . Helping those young adults that needed a little extra loving care. She was on the board of the Covenant Children’s Home in Princeton, Illinois which at the time was for troubled teens.

Later, when Ravenswood Covenant Church was approached by the City of Chicago about establishing a daycare for teen moms allowing them to finish high school, Audrey was all in. Working with the church family who shared the same vision, Audrey and Bud spearheaded the effort to obtain the proper credentials, grants and funding for what is now known as RC4. She was a board member at RC4 for ten years. She was also a board member of the program Parenting Progress ,,which was an offshoot of RC4, that helped teach those teen moms life skills.

Bud and Audrey also had a vision to help North Park University grow and develop into the beautiful campus it is today. Through securing land and buildings by themselves or with others in and in the blocks around the campus it was accomplished.

Serving others was her focus. Whether it was taking the high school group from Ravenswood Covenant Church to help others in Virginia, being a camp nurse at Covenant Harbor, bringing dinners to new parents, making banners for the church,greeting newcomers and including them in after church coffee.

She was also an active member of the Women’s Board at Swedish Covenant Hospital and helped orchestrate many of the benefit dinners there.

She loved Quilting, antiquing, shopping, traveling walking the beach and sitting in the sun in Fort Pierce Florida where she had some wonderful friends.

She loved her Bible study and the friends she developed over the 50 yrs that they met together.

Her greatest joy was being grandma to her 9 grandchildren and her 4 great grandchildren. Their successes were her successes. In her final days she heard Brady the oldest great grandchild sing Jesus Loves me, and she was overjoyed.

She was close to her extended family as well. She often hosted family holidays, particularly Christmas, that included over 50 people.

She was taken in the Arms of Jesus to Heaven as her family sang “How Great Thou Art” on January14,2021. A true send off for the woman that we know was welcomed into heaven with the words “Well done my Good and faithful servant.” She is survived by the love of her life, her husband Walter”Bud”, her children Lisa Kindstrom, Donald(Leslie),Philip(Martha), grandchildren Timothy Kindstrom, Peter Kindstrom( fiancé Ali) , Christopher Kindstrom, Meghan(Brad)DeJong, Kelsey (Eric) Hoffman, Cameron Hodgkinson, Abby Hodgkinson, Amy Hodgkinson and Callie Hodgkinson, great grandchildren Brady DeJong , Luke DeJong, Addison Hoffman, and Clark Hoffman. Beloved brother and sister-in-law laws , many special nieces and nephews, and dear friends.

She was preceded in death by her parents, her sisters MaeRita Tibbe, Virginia Shook, Emily Brummell, brothers Robert and Paul Mouthaan, and son in law Richard Kindstrom.

A memorial service for Audrey will be held Sunday, June 27, 2021 at 2:00PM at Ravenswood Evangelical Covenant Church, 4900 N Damen Ave, Chicago, IL 60625. Visitation and reception to follow. For information or questions, please call the church at (773) 784-7091.

The Audrey R Hodgkinson Nursing Scholarship is being established at North Park University. In lieu of flowers checks can be made to North Park University, and mailed to Walter Hodgkinson at 3850 w. Bryn Mawr #310, Chicago,Illinois 60659.

Peace be to her memory.