Audrey Blanche Spate

Remembering Audrey…

It is with gratitude and sadness that we announce the gentle passing of our Mom, Audrey Spate (nee Herman), 94, of Saskatoon SK, who died July 30, 2024, at the Royal University Hospital, after a long and eventful life. We will miss her love.

Mom was born on August 4, 1929 to Olive and Robbie Herman on a farm in Italy Cross, Nova Scotia. Mom was the 9th of 10 children. Grammie Herman used to say that if you wanted to find Audrey, just look outside. Mom attended Business College in Halifax and later began her adventure out West by train, in order to attend Winnipeg Bible Institute. It was there that she met, fell in love and married an English Airforce Vet, our Dad (Harold).

Mom worked alongside Harold as he pastored numerous churches in MB, AB and SK, and 4 children were added to their nest over the next 8 years. In the 70’s Mom trained as a data processor in Grande Cache, AB when it looked that Dad would soon be unable to work due to Parkinson’s disease. They moved to Saskatoon in 1979, where Mom worked at City Hall for a number of years until she took a position as Children’s Pastor at Emmanuel Baptist church to age 68.

Mom loved God, her family, all children and creating. She was a loving, energetic, creative soul. She attended ‘Curves’ to age 86 and was awarded with her ‘1-thousand workouts’ t-shirt. She happily led alongside hundreds of volunteers over the years in kid’s ministries such as ‘Children’s Sunday School of the Air’ (Rosetown radio), midweek clubs, Sunday School, Pioneer Girls, kid’s camps and special children’s events. She also tried most hobbies known to man. She taught Sunday School for 69 years (age 86) until June/2016 and “helped the Seniors”. She excelled at painting and pottery and always had a big and productive garden.In later years, Mom was able to travel to Hawaii, Mexico, Niger and Israel.

Mom is survived by her sister Bernice Isner (age 103); her children (David/Kathleen, Paul/Lois, Grace/Gerald and Philip/Amanda; her grandchildren (Michelle/Kai, Matthew/Kassi, Mark, Sara/Brent, Patrick, Emily/Taryn, Aidan, Devon, Daniel, Olivia); her great-grandchildren (Micah, Eisley, Thoren, Odessa, Wellington, Fennec and a precious little one expected this month), and many loved nieces and nephews as well as great nieces and nephews both in Canada and England. Mom was predeceased by her husband, Harold (2001) as well as her parents and 8 siblings (Frieda, Doris, Norma, Emmerson, Charlie, James, Eldon and Malcolm).