Audrey Pauline Anderson

Audrey was born on October 21, 1927, to Paul and Florence Thomas in Wheat Ridge, Colorado, where she grew up. She attended Fruitdale Elementary School and graduated from Wheat Ridge High School in 1945. Audrey's youth revolved around four things: 1. Her family and extended family, who gathered frequently, worked hard, and supported each other; 2. Her faith, which was nurtured by her involvement in the youth group at Fruitdale Baptist Church; 3. Her love for music and learning to play the piano; and 4. A handsome young man named Delbert who swept her off her feet at the age of 10.

Audrey valued all of these things throughout her entire long life. First and foremost was Delbert. On May 31, 1947, Audrey and Delbert were married at Fruitdale Baptist Church. They were surrounded by their youth group friends, more affectionately known as "The Fruitdale Gang." Audrey and Delbert spent most of their married lives in Wheat Ridge, Arvada, and Westminster. In 2001, they moved to Covenant Living of Colorado in Westminster, and Delbert passed away in December 2002. Audrey continued living at Covenant and stayed engaged in planning residents' birthday parties and volunteering in the gift shop. Until recently, she enjoyed participating in activities and watching her beloved Colorado Rockies (or any baseball game!) During their 55 years of marriage, Audrey and Delbert enjoyed traveling to Hawaii, Mexico, Canada, and several states across the country. They hosted numerous events in their homes—most notably serving their special homemade ice cream on the patio. They worked long hours at their jobs, and Audrey especially enjoyed working as the Executive Administrative Assistant for Jefferson County Community Center. She retired at age 62. Audrey and Delbert’s harmonious relationship was best observed in their music. Audrey was an accomplished pianist and organist, and she not only accompanied Delbert as he sang but also played the piano and organ at several churches and events. She played for countless weddings, funerals, and worship services. She also taught piano lessons to children, including her daughters, grandchildren, and nieces.

Audrey's family was a top priority. Every conversation with her usually included a quick assessment of how each grandchild and great-grandchild was doing. She loved gathering her family for holidays and celebrations and always made them special. Audrey grew up with aunts, uncles, and grandparents nearby, and they often worked together on the Thomas Farm. She loved picking strawberries and raspberries and spent hours harvesting, preparing, and canning beans and corn with her mom. In the last decade of her life, she developed an extraordinarily close relationship with her brother, Don. They spent hours chatting, playing Scrabble and Uno, and navigating the challenges of aging and decline. And then there were "the girls" – Leona and Gloria. Audrey loved her daughters and provided for them in extraordinary ways, not the least of which was sewing clothes for them. Visits, phone calls, trips, and dinners out were all things she loved doing with her girls. Of course, Audrey was thrilled to welcome Richard Bergstrom and Robert Hammer as sons-in-law to the family. And she was ecstatic when grandchildren and great-grandchildren came along and spent much energy blessing them with gifts and visits. Audrey crocheted numerous afghans –at least one for each child, grandchild, and great-grandchild. She still had yarn and patterns in her drawer and had hoped to make a special afghan for her grandson's wife.

Audrey loved and followed Jesus Christ. Throughout her life, she devoted time to reading Scripture and Christian books. She led Mission Circles and other women's ministry groups at Edgewater Baptist Church and Community Baptist Church of Arvada. She was well known and admired for the many Christmas programs/pageants she wrote, directed, produced, and provided musical accompaniment. Audrey's was a life of faith. The margins of her Bible are filled with comments, and many handwritten notes are stuck within its pages. She depended on God to be her comfort, strength, and joy.

Audrey Pauline Anderson was preceded in death by her husband, Delbert Bruce Anderson, as well as her parents, sister, Jeannette Strohmeyer, and brothers, Glenn Thomas and Gail Thomas. She leaves a legacy of faith and love to those who survive her, including two daughters, Leona Anderson Bergstrom (Richard) Bellingham, WA, Gloria Anderson Hammer (Robert) Ft. Collins, CO; grandchildren Jonathan Bergstrom (Emily) Seattle, WA, Lynnea Common (Daniel) Edmonds, WA, Amy McVeigh (Hayden) Bellevue, NE, and Aaron Hammer (Devon) Cambridge, WI; great-grandchildren Noah Bergstrom, Graham Bergstrom, Brinley Bergstrom, Nolan Common, Finley Common, Maya Common, Landen McVeigh, Kaycee McVeigh, Alayna McVeigh, and Brooks Hammer; brother, Donald Thomas, Arvada, CO, and many nieces, nephews and friends.

Audrey's life will be celebrated at a memorial service on Saturday, February 3, 2024, at 10 AM at Olingers Crown Hill Pavilion, 7777 W. 29th Ave., Lakewood, Colorado. Visitation and viewing will be before the service from 9:00 - 9:30 AM. The entombment will be at the Garden Mausoleum at Crown Hill immediately after the service, with a reception following.

The service will be live-streamed for those who cannot attend in person.

The family requests that in honor of Audrey’s life, memorial gifts be given to provide benevolent care for residents of Covenant Living of Colorado. Memorials can be made by check and mailed to: Covenant Living of Colorado Attn: Tina Corbett 9153 Yarrow Street Westminster, CO 80021 or use the quick link below.

When making the donation, please make sure and select Covenant Living of Colorado as the location under Gift Designation. Also, gifts can be designated as a Memorial under Tribute Gift if you scroll to the bottom of the donation page. There is a space to put the name of the person who the gift will be made in memory here as well.

Or, if you prefer, please consider giving to the Denver Rescue Mission in memory of Audrey Anderson. To make a donation, please visit DenverRescueMission.org/InMemorial and select "Dedicate my donation in honor or in memory of someone. Please see quick link below