Obituary of Audrey E Aronica

Audrey Ellen (Pacot) Aronica passed into the arms of the Lord on January 12, 2024 in Othello, WA with her family by her side. She had lived a full life of 93 years. Born on July 28th, 1930 in Gillette, WY to Edward and Teresa Pacot, Audrey was the younger of two children. She is survived by her sister, Teresa Eugenia “Jeanne” (Pacot) White. Audrey enjoyed learning and attended Holy Names Academy and graduated from Whitman College. While at college, Audrey participated in many sorority activities. Upon graduation, she used her education and compassionate spirit by serving others as a social worker. During this time, she met her loving husband, Alfonso (Al) Aronica in Carnation, WA at a family barbecue. Soon after, Al was deployed to Korea with the US Army and throughout this time they wrote letters getting to know one another. The box of letters sat in a cedar chest for her lifetime. Upon his return they were engaged and married in 1953 in Carnation, WA. Al and Audrey moved to Pullman, WA , where she worked for a dentist as Al completed his bachelor’s degree in hospitality, and they had their first child, Teresa (Terry). Soon after, they moved to Bellingham, WA and had their son, Ed. As Al worked in the restaurant business, Audrey was a full-time mother working hard and dedicated to Al, Terry and Ed. While living in Bellevue, WA their third child, Paula, was born. Audrey and family moved to Lake Stevens, WA where she spent most of her life as a dedicated homemaker and life-long learner. She took Calligraphy classes and practiced until she was able to teach others. She held many community classes and also taught at the women’s jail. Late in life she took up the piano, going to weekly lessons and practicing daily. She was delighted when she had saved up and bought herself a baby grand piano to play. Along with learning, she was an avid reader. She would plow through a stack of books, each adorned with her signature “A” stamp upon finishing. Games were always a part of her life. She played for fun and used them to teach her children skills. Al and Audrey often played pinochle with friends and had a two handed challenge daily up until Al’s passing. Her grandkids and kids learned that when you played games with Grandma, it was house rules. You had to be quick as house rules could change. But love and laughter were always present during the fun. She played backgammon up until she was 92 and LOVED to win. Audrey was a caring and compassionate person, showing unconditional love to her family and others. If she saw a need, she would do what she could to be supportive. She loved supporting Pet Rescue, hat and mitten drives, Christmas Shoe Box Missions, and St Judes Children’s Hospital. Her daughters, Terry and Paula, remember that if someone or something was important to them, it was important to mom. After the passing of Al, Audrey moved to Othello, WA, where she spent her last years with her devoted companion dog, Snuggles. Audrey was preceded in death by her husband , Al, and her son, Ed. She is survived by her daughters, Terry (Dave) Janney and Paula (Bill) Laing; her grandchildren, Keisha, Carlee, Lindsey, Amanda, Tanner, and Angel; many great-grandchildren, and nieces and nephews. Audrey will be interred with her husband Al at Novelty Hill Cemetery at a later date. Memorials may be sent to St. Jude’s Children’s Hospital.