Audrey Harrison

DELMAR, NY - Audrey Fenton Harrison died peacefully on March 24, 2011 from complications of dementia at the Good Samaritan Nursing Home in Delmar, NY, Thursday, March 24, 2011. She is survived by her husband of 65 years, Jim Harrison, three children, Jean Harrison Danver of Los Altos Hills, CA, J. Bryan Harrison of Saratoga Springs, NY, and Sue Ellen Harrison of Boulder, CO, seven grandchildren and three great grandchildren. Audrey Fenton was born in New York City and spent most of her young life in Rockville Center, New York where she was a graduate of South Side High School and a member of the National Honor Society. Audrey was also active in the high school theater productions, something she enjoyed enormously. She went on to attend Adelphi College and while there, she was inducted into the Kappa Kappa Gamma Sorority, for which she was quite proud. When the United States entered World War II, she left college to work for the war effort. Jim Harrison of Freeport, New York, met the strikingly beautiful Audrey, in a soda fountain. Audrey's mother actually arranged their first date, beginning a life-long romance that, like her college education, was influenced by World War II. On April 17, 1943, days before being shipped out, Jim was granted leave to marry Audrey. After the war, the young couple had three children. Jim's work took them from Long Island, NY to Dallas, Texas, back to Long Island and eventually to Rumson, New Jersey in 1962. Audrey loved the Jersey Shore, choosing to retire at the Shadow Lake Retirement Community in Red Bank, where they remained until a year before her death. Audrey was a dedicated mother providing inspiration to her children, leading them into music, drama and sports while expecting academic achievement. Audrey was also a dedicated volunteer, heading up the annual auction for the Rumson New Jersey High School Music Society, a year along effort. In later life she became a real estate professional, earning her broker's license. Audrey will be remembered by her family and friends as a creative, energetic, fun loving person, and a caring mother willing to support all of us in whatever we chose to do. It was she who carried on the family culture, celebrating all the births, deaths, holidays, graduations and weddings with great gusto, no matter where or when they took place. And it was she who taught the family our moral code, civility and love, for which we owe her a great honor. It was difficult watching her mind fade away. A memorial service will be held for Audrey at 2:30 PM on Saturday, May 21, 2011 at the Applebee Funeral Home, 403 Kenwood Ave., Delmar, New York. Donations to the Alzheimer's Association of America or the charity of your choice in her name are welcome.