Audrey Lorraine Lucente

Audrey Lorraine Lucente—native San Josean, local staffing pioneer, and loving widow of Louis “Hank” Lucente—passed peacefully at the age of 100. The youngest of eight children born to Santo and Minnie Scarpino, Audrey lost both parents while still a teenager, forcing her to grow up quickly amid the lingering depression. She graduated from San Jose High School in 1941 and married Hank the following year, shortly before his enlistment in the U.S. Navy. The newlyweds stayed close during Hank’s stateside training—with Audrey finding employment and lodging in places like Farragut, Idaho; Memphis, Tenn.; and Hollywood, Florida. Upon Hank’s return from the Pacific in 1945, the couple began their post-war lives in San Francisco where, in 1950, their daughter Debra was born. Soon thereafter, they settled in San Jose and Audrey began her five-decade career in the fledgling temporary staffing industry. Managing local offices of the Western, Adia, and Tempositions agencies, she put more than 150,000 job-seekers to work at many of the leading companies of the era. Audrey was elected to the board of directors of the California Association of Temporary Services (CATS), serving as its regional president in 1974, and she was also a member of Zonta International. In her own way, Audrey did it all before “Having it all” was a thing. She took immense pride in her professional accomplishments, but prioritized caring for Hank, Debra, and son Tom, and opening her heart and home to family and friends. She was a fabulous cook and hostess who loved listening and dancing to the big band music of her youth, owning and driving a succession of original Ford Mustangs and, later in life, finding joy in the game of golf (Hank's passion for so many years). Audrey’s unique charm, personality, and style will be missed by all she leaves behind, including daughter and son in-law Debra and James Rapheld, son and daughter in-law Tom and Catherine Lucente, sister- and brother-in-law Emily and Chuck Harris, nieces and nephews, and her devoted neighbors on Marmont Way. Scheduled services at Lima Family Santa Clara Mortuary on Friday, January 6, 2023: family visitation from 9:00-10:00 a.m., public visitation from 10:00-11:00 a.m., and funeral services at 11:00 a.m., followed by internment at Santa Clara Mission Cemetery and Celebration of Life at Maggiano's Santana Row. Fond memories and expressions of sympathy may be shared at www.limafamilysantaclara.com.