Audrey A. Sickles

Audrey Sickles
February 7, 2021

We call her Doris, Mom, and Ma. She was the most beautiful soul we knew; she would give everything she had to a stranger. She was a champion for others, our biggest cheerleader, always in our corner. She loved with her whole heart and always had room for more. She leaves behind her beloved husband Carl, her "Fred," with whom she recently celebrated 60 years "in the butter tub." Ma was fearless, invincible, often pushing herself beyond the limits of her body. She was all these amazing traits and her generosity of spirit poured into those around her.

We teased her about her "cape" for helping others, but each of us carries a piece of that cape. We gained many adoptive family members over the years because Ma passed on her big heart to all of us. Ma gave the best hugs, whole-body, rocking hugs filled with joy that made you feel like the most important person on earth. Mom was the leader of a large pack, and we already miss her fiercely. She was our home base and our bedrock in any crisis.

Born Audrey Ann O'Connor on November 8, 1940 to Patrick O'Connor and Leah (Lajeunesse) O'Connor, in Cohoes, New York, she was the youngest of four. She is predeceased by her parents and brothers, Robert and Richard O'Connor. In addition to her husband, she is survived by her sister, Marie Costello, and her children Sheila (David) Ayres, Carla (Brian) Koontz, Lisa (Ken) Madigan, Paula (Glenn) Haberland, Matthew (Laurie) Sickles, and Leah (Kyle) Seymour. She loved her 14 grandchildren and her two great-grandchildren. Her grandchildren include Seth Thomas, Will Dux, Kacy Dux, Hope (Justin) Radanovic, Katey Ayres, Andrea Koontz, Eric Koontz, Erin (Evan) Carknard, Teddy (Molly) Madigan, Abby Sickles, Ella Sickles, Matthew Seymour, Connor Seymour, and Ryan Seymour. Her great-grandchildren are Hannah and Rohan. She is also survived by many nieces, nephews, cousins and dear friends. She loved her granddogs Shiloh, Charlie, Ned, and Sadie.

Mom was a champion for causes she loved and her adopted village of Schaghticoke, New York. She created a loving home that included all of our friends. In her own words, "I enjoyed hosting the Kool-Aid house on the block." Warm popovers with butter, cinnamon toast, English muffin pizza, chicken and pilaf, rare roast beef, ring salad and her famous sour cream coffee cake will forever be associated with Mom. She opened our home to foster children who enriched our lives and showed us how rich we were in love and stability. Later, she provided daily childcare to the children of our teachers and neighbors, earning the name "Mommy Sickles" by loving them like her own. She loved to entertain and hosting big parties was her forté, especially in the summer, often on an hour's notice. Our many cousins, near and far, know what a force of nature she was. Her sense of adventure and reverse psychology allowed her children to foster a pony in our backyard for several weeks while she was eight months pregnant. Mom gave us memories that will last a lifetime. We will always remember curlers in our hair, her French lips (seen when we were in trouble), home-made clothes, snowmobile boots, NFL hats, family vacations to Hampton beach, the Jersey shore, and OBX, being the one to lick the batter off the beaters, knitted sweaters that ripped your hair out, and the comfort of her humming to the soundtrack in her mind. We cherish every memory of every moment we were fortunate to have with her.

Mom was always giving her time and energy to a cause, often making it a family affair. Watching and helping Mom support women and their children through Unity House built a foundation of giving in all of us. After the birth of her sixth child, she continued her education, earning a degree in Human Services from Hudson Valley Community College. She worked as the director of Viking Childcare Center for ten years before returning home to care for grandchildren and others. In her retirement years, Audrey enjoyed winters in Florida, days spent at the beach, and vacations with her family. She continued to give her time to others through organizations like the Ladies of St. Anne, as president, and the Columbiettes.

Her grandchildren will always cherish the close relationships she shared with each of them. Even though she had many grandchildren, Ma nurtured a special bond with each one as an individual. In all of our reminiscing, each person's story of Ma is unique. She was an advocate and offered unwavering support for everyone's passions. Her grandchildren all have a formidable guardian angel to watch over them now.

COVID is a cruel disease. Pray for this virus to be conquered. Please support the healthcare workers who have to navigate this. COVID is real. Mom loved life, loved her family, and loved God, and she was taken from us way too soon. We are so thankful for the wonderful care she received at Samaritan Hospital ICU. In lieu of flowers, donations may be made in Audrey's honor to St. Peter's Hospital Foundation COVID-19 Response Fund at 310 South Manning Blvd., Albany, NY, 12208. Private funeral services will be held for the family at Holy Trinity Church in Cohoes, NY. A celebration of life will be held at a later date, when it is safe.

The family that Mom and Dad created-All Sickles, All the Time-is special because of all she gave and taught her children and grandchildren. Her loving, open heart, her generosity, and her fierce support of others will live on through her people. Her family finds comfort knowing that she will be with us forever in all we do, and that she is Ma to everyone who loves her.