Audrey Violet Kaucher

Mrs. Audrey Violet Kaucher, 95, passed away peacefully with family by her side on Friday evening March 10, 2023 at Alpine Rehab and Nursing Center, Little Falls.

Audrey was born at 11 George Street, West Bay, Bridport, Dorset, England on July 12, 1927 to Frank and Evelyn (Harvey) Butt.  A fisherman/Trinity House harbor pilot's daughter, she worked as a nanny for a prominent local family upon completing school. The position allowed her to visit Ireland with the family, but she declined an offer to permanently relocate to South Africa with them.

In 1943, while attending a local dance, she met her future husband Joseph Kaucher, from Little Falls. Joe was stationed nearby with the US Army 1st Infantry Division while preparing for the invasion at Omaha Beach on D-Day. Audrey and Joe maintained contact and in March of 1947, she departed Southampton, England via passenger ship destined to join Joe in Little Falls. She often recalled how seasick she was during the entire trip. She survived the journey and eventually arrived in Little Falls via rail from New York City. Audrey and Joe were married in St. Mary's Parish House by Monsignor Noonan on May 10, 1947. The couple then took up residence at 403 South Ann Street, later building a new home on Paines Hollow Road, where Audrey lived for the remainder of her life. Joe predeceased Audrey in May of 1989.

Shortly after marriage, Audrey found employment at several Little Falls businesses including National Automotive Fibres, Gilbert's Knitting Co. and Christian Hansen's Laboratories. A year later a son, Robert Joseph was born, followed by another son, Mark Francis, in the mid-50's. During the Korean Conflict, she served as a 'plane spotter' on Fiery Hill in the Town of Danube. By the late 50's, she eventually re-entered the workforce at Salada/Kellogg/Redco Foods, and retired in 1993 after 34 years of service there.

Audrey enjoyed numerous activities through the years including gardening, knitting, crochet, ceramics, history, genealogy, socializing, swimming at the YMCA, and attending church with her network of retired friends. In the 60's and 70's she enjoyed camping at Pine Lake and snowmobiling. In her later years she enjoyed the company of the Rock CIty Seniors. She was also known for her cooking/baking abilities and seed-to-bloom gardening skills, both of which she attributed to her mother's side of her family. Her expertise in baking potica was attributed to the teachings of her Slovenian mother-in-law, Mary.  As with most “Brits", she loved animals of all sorts, especially dogs and birds. Most recently, neighborly chickens provided her with welcome company.

Proud to have become an American citizen, Audrey was also proud of her English heritage and spent a considerable amount of time researching her genealogy, successfully tracing ancestors back to the 1,600's in St. Peter Port, Guernsey, Channel Islands. She displayed both United States of America and Great Britain's Union Jack flags on her flagpoles and was pleased to know that her home village, West Bay, served as the set for the television series Broadchurch. Audrey revisited her homeland several times through the years.

Above all, Audrey's primary legacy is the unconditional love, inspiration and strength she provided to her immediate and extended family. She was always there to support the loves of her life and encouraged them through the peaks and valleys of life with inexhaustible energy and optimism. She was extremely proud of her family and gave of herself to them unselfishly. To say that her grandchildren gave her the greatest joy of her life, and without doubt contributed to her longevity, is undeniable. The numbers of lives she touched through her involvement with their lives is incalculable.

Audrey is survived by her son, Mark Kaucher, daughter-in-law, Iva (Carl) Farber, granddaughters, Nicole (John) Barry, Holland Patent, Alicia (Aaron) Standish, Westlake, FL, grandsons, Collin (Michelle) Kaucher, Utica, Kevin (Whitney) Kaucher, Albuquerque, NM; Ian Kaucher, Little Falls, great-grandaughters, Bailey (Brendan) Martin, Eloise Standish and Josephine Standish, great-grandsons, Riley Synenki and Keiran Kaucher, great-great-grandson, Benson Kennedy, sisters-in in-law, Josephine Smith and Barbara Butt (ENG), nieces, Pamela Smith King and Laura Smith McCann, Debbie (Chris) Dowding (ENG), nephews, Joseph Gartner, Michael George, John Gartner, Robert George, Brian Butt (ENG), Paul Butt (ENG), Simon Butt (CAN) and Alan Smith, cousins Jennifer Rutland (ENG) and Margaret Gooden (ENG).  Audrey is predeceased by her parents, her husband, her son, Robert, daughter-in-law, Kathleen Engert Kaucher, her brothers,  John Butt (ENG) and David Butt (ENG), sisters-in-law, Mary Kaucher Gartner, Dorothy Kovac George, Josephine Butt and cousins Judy Cash (ENG) and Barb Morgan (ENG), Colin Courtney (ENG), Mickey Harvey (ENG) and nephew, Thomas George.

The family wishes to convey their sincere appreciation to the caring staffs at Little Falls Hospital, Alpine Rehabilitation Facility, Dr. Buch's office, Little Falls Ambulance, Kinney Pharmacy, and the many family friends who provided so many thoughtful expressions of compassion and friendship during Audrey's recent illness.

A memorial service will commence at 10 am on Saturday, July 8, 2023 from Mohawk Valley Funerals and Cremations, 7507 State Route 5 (Town of Manheim), Little Falls, 315-508-5131, with Father Brian Slezak, pastor of Holy Family Parish, officiating. Visitation will take place also on Saturday, July 8th, prior to the service, from 9am until 10 am. Burial will follow, along-side her husband at St. Mary's Cemetery, town of Herkimer.