Audrey McKay

Audrey McKay, age 57, passed away quietly on the morning of Friday, July 12, 2019 at the General Hospital in Hamilton surrounded by family. Born in Stirling, Scotland, on August 19,1961 to Martha Bradshaw McFayden and Robert Cowan McKay both of Scotland, she grew up in Canada. A journalism graduate of Conestoga College, Waterloo, she began her professional life as an intern for the Creative Arts Festival, Hamilton, where she developed her skills in organization, promotion and communication. In keeping with her labour sensibilities, she moved on to a life-long career in the labour movement. For many years, she worked for The United Food and Commercial Workers International Union, where she developed many bonds of friendship with colleagues and routed her future path. Her subsequent years working for the Service Employees International Union Healthcare allowed her to follow her calling: to stand up for the rights and protection of people. Always the activist, Audrey's passion for education and women's rights drew the gratitude and admiration of many. A fearless fighter, Audrey was the best advocate to have by your side whether professionally or personally, to which many of those who grieve her passing can attest. As a sister, as an aunt, as a sister-in-law, as a cousin, as a niece, as a colleague and as a friend, Audrey will be deeply missed. She had a distinctive style, an intelligence, an optimism, and a raw sense of humour that always put things into perspective. Those who knew her, will have the privilege of her impact on their lives for years to come. Funeral services will be held on Wednesday, July 17, 2019 11:00 am at Cresmount Funeral Home - Fennell Chapel at 322 Fennell Avenue, Hamilton. The family would like to extend our gratitude to the Cardiac Care teams at the Hamilton General Hospital for their care and compassion toward Audrey and our family. In lieu of flowers, the family requests memorials be made in Audrey's name to the Heart and Stroke Foundation of Canada or the Cardiology & Vascular Surgery Unit, Hamilton General Hospital.