Audrey Louise Fraser (née Hollingworth)

In the wee hours of November 10, 2025, my little mom passed away at University Hospital, London after a very brief illness at the age of 93.

It is not lost on me, the blessing of having been with my mom and dad, holding their hands as they passed, five and a half years apart.

My mom was born on August 23, 1932, the youngest of four kids, to my Nana and Boppa (Lillian and John (Jack)) Hollingworth in Toronto.  She was predeceased by her eldest brother, Jack.  She is greatly missed by her daughter Chris (that’s me), her sister Joan, with whom she has shared a forever friendship, step-grandkids Judy (Dave) and Shawn (Janine), step-great-grandkids Sidney (Matt), Zack (Abby), Emily, Denika, Luke and Nathan, son-in-law Bob, nieces Lorie (Conrad), Janet (Clyde), Kathy (Pete) and Janet, nephew Bob (Cheryl), brother Bill, special family friends, Jackie and Denise, and so many other friends.

We lost my extraordinary brother, Doug Jr., in a flying accident in 1992, and my incredible dad, Doug Sr., in 2020. My mom survived and transcended these and other challenges with strength and grace.

My mom and dad married in Toronto on October 8, 1955.  My dad’s career resulted in moves to London, Ont., Chatham, Ont. (where I was born), Dawson Creek, BC (where my brother was born), and Edmonton, Alta.  My parents forged and kept strong bonds of friendship wherever they went.  They were devoted to each other and our family.  In 1969, my parents took a leap of faith, returned to London, established a successful business and grew deep roots.

Our house was always Grand Central Station.  Countless pairs of our friends’ shoes lined the hall at any given time.  My mom…. my parents…. were pillars and confidantes and second parents to so many of our friends.

Everyone who met my mom loved her. When I told her this, she never understood why; she didn’t see how special she was.  Friends have described her as “a precious light who brought joy to so many people”, “a bright light”, “the sweetest lady with a heart as big as the world,“, and said that “she brought positivity and kindness to everyone around her”.

My mom’s most special place on earth was the family cottage.  Built in 1910 by my great-grandfather, countless memories have been made and shared by family and friends.  I’m smiling as I recall her lifetime of stories that I and others never grew tired of hearing.  In late September we had the joy of getting back up to the cottage where family gathered to reminisce, laugh and have our traditional “hootenanny” …. and my mom danced.

My mom was funny, strong, welcoming, kind, loving, resilient, grateful… she was my perspective, my insight, my rock and my best friend.  She made me laugh out loud every single day.  And she was cute as a button.

Having my mom living with me these past 14 months have been an indescribable gift.  It has amplified the grief of loss, but so worth it.

Thank you to everyone, from my heart and soul, who contributed to my mom’s joy throughout her life.

Cremation has taken place.  A Celebration of Life will be held at Westview Funeral Home and Cremation Centre, 709 Wonderland Road North, London, on Wednesday, November 26, 2025 at 2:00 p.m.  Visitation will be held on Tuesday, November 25, 2025 from 4:00 – 7:00 p.m.  Private interment will take place on a warm, sunny day.

Those wishing to make a donation in my mom’s memory, in liue of flowers, please consider Possibilities Project, c/o St. Joseph’s Health Care Foundation London, https://www.sjhc.london.on.ca/fundraising-priorities/possibilities-project, or a charity close to your heart