Mary Audrea (Phillips) Firth |
| Posted 2017-11-15 by Pat R |
| Arizona Republic (Phoenix, AZ) Thursday, May 18, 2017 Mary Audrea Firth (nee Phillips) passed away May 15, 2017, surrounded by family. She was born in Lynbrook, New York on January 8, 1928 to Peter Phillips and Marie Karnes Phillips. She was preceded in death by her husband of 62 years, William J. Firth Jr, sisters Jean Johnson and Marilyn Bell, son Dr. William J. Firth III, and great grandson, Gabriel Scannell. Audrea is survived by her daughter Deborah Scannell (Patrick), sons Thomas (Susan), Paul (Joelle), Gary, and daughter-in-law of 40 years, Anne Gwin Firth. She has been blessed with 11 grandchildren: Erik, Nicholas, Matthew, Regina, Brennan, Caitlyn, Peter, Lexi, William IV, Branwen and John Emmanuel. She was also "GiGi" to 8 great grandchildren: Anahera, Caedan, Savanna, Indigo, Corban, Layla, Zoey and Ford. Joan Parkinson and generations of nieces and nephews across the country were included in her large extended family. Audrea was a 1946 graduate of St. Agnes High School and worked at Grey Advertising and on Wall Street, where she met her husband William. Married in 1948, Audrea and Bill raised 5 children in East Northport, New York. They moved their family to Phoenix in 1965 to be closer to her sisters. Audrea believed strongly in education and supported her five children through Brophy College Preparatory and Xavier College Preparatory. With all of them in middle and high school, she returned to the work force with positions at Lewis and Roca Law Firm, and the Arizona Education Association headquarters. Years of "training" these five rambunctious children brought forth successful organizational skills to her records management career, but she continued her own education while working to earn an AA degree from Phoenix College (1976) and a Bachelor of Arts in Management from the University of Phoenix (1981). During her 17 years of leadership with the AZ Education Association, Audrea served a term as Secretary of the National Committee of American Records Management Association. She retired from AEA in 1984. Audrea and her husband, Bill enjoyed many years in retirement together, traveling to more than 20 countries. They were founding members of St. Luke's Catholic Church in north Phoenix, where Audrea always loved to sing in the choir. She also enjoyed playing weekly golf at Paradise Valley Golf Course, and in later years, kept her mind sharp around a card table with friends. Audrea remained the heart of our family with her strong Catholic faith, her endless love of her growing family, her warm smile and her meatball recipe. A Memorial Mass will be celebrated on Saturday, May 20 at 11AM at St. Elizabeth Seton Catholic Church, 9728 W. Palmeras Drive, Sun City, Az. In lieu of flowers, the family welcomes donations to the "William J. Firth III, M.D., Rural Medicine Scholarship Fund" at Wickenburg Hospital, 520 Rose Lane, Wickenburg, Az 85390. See Also: Find A Grave |
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