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Audrey LaBorde

Audrey LaBorde

1934

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2025

Cover photo of Audrey LaBorde

Audrey LaBorde

1934

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2025

Audrey was born on November 29th, 1934 and passed away on April 12th, 2025 at the age of 90

Audrey

was born on November 29th, 1934
and passed away on April 12th, 2025 at the age of 90
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Photo of Audrey LaBorde
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Photo of Audrey LaBorde
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Photo of Audrey LaBorde
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Photo of Audrey LaBorde
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Photo of Audrey LaBorde
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Photo of Audrey LaBorde
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Photo of Audrey LaBorde
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Photo of Audrey LaBorde

It is with sadness that we announce that Audrey Lea LaBorde, aged 90, formerly of Freeport and Orangeville, passed peacefully at Medina Nursing Center, Durand, on April 12, 2025. She was a woman of adventurous spirit and boundless generosity. Audrey was born on November 29, 1934, in Monroe, WI, to her parents Roy and Onetta Rufi of Orangeville. When Audrey was only twelve years old, she was badly burned in a fire in her family home. Because the first US civilian burn unit was only established a year earlier as a research center, she was cared for by her parents at home. Periodic care was given throughout her life. She was able to overcome this challenge and went on to live an adventurous, compassionate and productive life. Audrey graduated from Orangeville High School in 1953. She married LaVern Crafton soon after and became a mother for the first time in 1954, and again in 1958. After parting ways, she married William George in 1961. Four additional children were born to the couple. In 1982 she married Dennis Nieman, and in 1991 she married Gerald LaBorde. Audrey worked as an assembler in the manufacturing sector, from which she retired from Micro Switch / Honeywell. Her professional life, however, was just one aspect of her dynamic personality. Audrey's adventurous nature was evident in her hobbies and achievements. She was an avid swimmer, a certified Scuba Open Water Diver, a globe-trotter who had travelled to Oaxaca, Veracruz and Mexico City in Mexico; France, Belgium and Switzerland in Europe; the Bahamas; several states in the USA; and even earned a Certificate of Flight in a Hot Air Balloon. Enjoying the excitement of parades, she also traveled to California to see the 2001 Rose Parade. At the core of Audrey's generous nature was her deeply rooted faith, which she expressed through her active involvement in the Park Hills Church in Freeport. She was an active member of the church choir and took part in mission work in Honduras, embodying the compassionate spirit of Christianity. The words of 1 Peter 4:10, "Each of you should use whatever gift you have received to serve others," were lived out daily in her life, through her love of laughter, for music, gardening, elder home care, and taking care of her pets. Audrey is survived by her five daughters, Diane (Wayne) Phillips, Andrea (Michael) Gibson, Linnet (Scott Smith) Hawthorne, Adrienne (Michael) Abramovich, and Scarlet (David) Leverton. She will be fondly remembered by her grandchildren Kristen (Mario) Aguirre, Kara (Bradley - deceased) Dummer, Kiley (David) Yates, Korey (Christie Gaskill) Phillips, Danielle (Jon) Bauer, Derek (Cariee) Gibson, David (Lyndsey - fiance) Rollinger, Jimmy Dyson, Keith (Amanda) George, Kory George, Heather Valverde, Mike Abramovich, Tamsy Leverton, and Teegan Leverton. Her legacy continues with her niece Anita (Mark) White and great grandchildren Lucas, Isabella, Mason, and Gavin Aguirre; Preston and Myrah Dummer; Emily, Matthew and Hailey Yates; Mara Gaskill and Bella Crisp; Mikenna and Aubrey Bauer; Ayva Bennett and Nora Gibson; David Isaac and Dylan Jo Rollinger; Alex Love; Theo George and Melody George . Audrey was preceded in death by her parents, Roy and Onetta Rufi, her daughter Laura Harris (Leland Warren), her granddaughter Jessica Love, and her grandson-in-law Bradley Dummer. Audrey's life was a beautiful testament to her spirited nature, her boundless generosity, and her compassionate heart. She lived life to the fullest, leaving a legacy of love and adventure that will forever be remembered by all who knew her. A Memorial Visitation will be held Thursday, April 17, from 4:00 p.m. to 8:00 p.m. at McCorkle Funeral Home, located at 101 W. Main St. in Durand, IL. Cremation Rites to be Accorded. Final Resting Place to be Greenwood Cemetery, Monroe, WI. We invite you to share your memories of Audrey and upload photos to the memorial page to celebrate her life.

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Audrey LaBorde

Nov. 29, 1934 ~ Apr. 12, 2025

It is with sadness that we announce that Audrey Lea LaBorde, aged 90, formerly of Freeport and Orangeville, passed peacefully at Medina Nursing Center, Durand, on April 12, 2025. She was a woman of adventurous spirit and boundless generosity. Audrey was born on November 29, 1934, in Monroe, WI, to her parents Roy and Onetta Rufi of Orangeville. When Audrey was only twelve years old, she was badly burned in a fire in her family home. Because the first US civilian burn unit was only established a year earlier as a research center, she was cared for by her parents at home. Periodic care was given throughout her life. She was able to overcome this challenge and went on to live an adventurous, compassionate and productive life. Audrey graduated from Orangeville High School in 1953. She married LaVern Crafton soon after and became a mother for the first time in 1954, and again in 1958. After parting ways, she married William George in 1961. Four additional children were born to the couple. In 1982 she married Dennis Nieman, and in 1991 she married Gerald LaBorde. Audrey worked as an assembler in the manufacturing sector, from which she retired from Micro Switch / Honeywell. Her professional life, however, was just one aspect of her dynamic personality. Audrey's adventurous nature was evident in her hobbies and achievements. She was an avid swimmer, a certified Scuba Open Water Diver, a globe-trotter who had travelled to Oaxaca, Veracruz and Mexico City in Mexico; France, Belgium and Switzerland in Europe; the Bahamas; several states in the USA; and even earned a Certificate of Flight in a Hot Air Balloon. Enjoying the excitement of parades, she also traveled to California to see the 2001 Rose Parade. At the core of Audrey's generous nature was her deeply rooted faith, which she expressed through her active involvement in the Park Hills Church in Freeport. She was an active member of the church choir and took part in mission work in Honduras, embodying the compassionate spirit of Christianity. The words of 1 Peter 4:10, "Each of you should use whatever gift you have received to serve others," were lived out daily in her life, through her love of laughter, for music, gardening, elder home care, and taking care of her pets. Audrey is survived by her five daughters, Diane (Wayne) Phillips, Andrea (Michael) Gibson, Linnet (Scott Smith) Hawthorne, Adrienne (Michael) Abramovich, and Scarlet (David) Leverton. She will be fondly remembered by her grandchildren Kristen (Mario) Aguirre, Kara (Bradley - deceased) Dummer, Kiley (David) Yates, Korey (Christie Gaskill) Phillips, Danielle (Jon) Bauer, Derek (Cariee) Gibson, David (Lyndsey - fiance) Rollinger, Jimmy Dyson, Keith (Amanda) George, Kory George, Heather Valverde, Mike Abramovich, Tamsy Leverton, and Teegan Leverton. Her legacy continues with her niece Anita (Mark) White and great grandchildren Lucas, Isabella, Mason, and Gavin Aguirre; Preston and Myrah Dummer; Emily, Matthew and Hailey Yates; Mara Gaskill and Bella Crisp; Mikenna and Aubrey Bauer; Ayva Bennett and Nora Gibson; David Isaac and Dylan Jo Rollinger; Alex Love; Theo George and Melody George . Audrey was preceded in death by her parents, Roy and Onetta Rufi, her daughter Laura Harris (Leland Warren), her granddaughter Jessica Love, and her grandson-in-law Bradley Dummer. Audrey's life was a beautiful testament to her spirited nature, her boundless generosity, and her compassionate heart. She lived life to the fullest, leaving a legacy of love and adventure that will forever be remembered by all who knew her. A Memorial Visitation will be held Thursday, April 17, from 4:00 p.m. to 8:00 p.m. at McCorkle Funeral Home, located at 101 W. Main St. in Durand, IL. Cremation Rites to be Accorded. Final Resting Place to be Greenwood Cemetery, Monroe, WI. We invite you to share your memories of Audrey and upload photos to the memorial page to celebrate her life.

Show your love and support to Audrey's family by adding your name to Audrey's Guest Book.

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Plant a memorial tree in Audrey’s memory with one of our re-forestation projects.

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Show your support by adding your name to Audrey's Guestbook

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Me

Share a message or condolence with others...

How did you know Audrey?

Me

What is something interesting about Audrey that others might not know?

Me

In just a few words, how would you describe Audrey?

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Light a Candle

What is a funny story about Audrey?

Me

What do you want someone reading this 100 years from now to know about Audrey?

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How did Audrey make the world a better place?

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Leave aLiving, Lasting Tributewith a memorial tree.

What is Audrey’s legacy?

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What is something you will always remember about Audrey?

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What is something you admired about Audrey?

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What is your favorite story of Audrey?

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What is something that made Audrey special?

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How did Audrey help other people?

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What did Audrey teach you?

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What did you love about Audrey?

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APhotocan be worth a thousandWords

What would you say to Audrey today?

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What are some things Audrey loved to do?

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What was Audrey really good at?

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When did Audrey make you laugh?

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What was Audrey's favorite possession, place, or holiday?

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What is your earliest memory of Audrey?

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What were some quotes from Audrey you liked?

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What was Audrey's funniest quirk?

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What did Audrey value most in life?

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What words would you use to describe Audrey’s character?

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Flowerscan often say itBest

6 Memories preserved

What does Scarlet want someone reading this 100 years from now to know about Audrey?

"Thursday was payday from mom’s job at Micro Switch. Micro Switch was an assembly plant in Freeport, IL. Mom worked using her hands to put parts together for this manufacturing company. She had to “make rate” each hour or day, which was a quota of required parts assembled that she needed to do to keep employment. She had her own work space and tools working side by side with others in her department. She was very fast! Her hands took the toll thou. She had cotton gloves she would wear at night so she could put soothing creams on her hands so the skin would not crack and bleed. Some of the parts had chemicals on them that were very caustic but you made a higher wage if you worked in that department. In some departments they required you to stand all day. She never understood if she made rate why she couldn’t sit on a stool. Payday meant we went out to eat at Hardee’s for hamburgers. I got this treat growing up in the mid 70s and 80s. I came to expect it each payday and would throw a literal fit if we missed our date night. This was the only time I was taken out to a restaurant growing up and a very special memory to me. When I was in college, 1991-1993, I took a summer job as a security guard checking Micro Switch employee badges. At night I walked several of the 5 plants on Spring Street making sure they were locked and nothing was out of order. Mom earned a small lifetime pension for having worked over 25 years at Micro Switch. Snippet of the history of Micro Switch of Freeport, Illinois—typically written in capitals as “MICRO SWITCH” and commonly abbreviated to “Micro”—was an early entrant to the computer keyboard market, with keyboard switches entering production somewhere in the early 1960s. The company was founded in 1937 to produce the then recently-invented “micro switch” (being a trademarked term). Honeywell would later purchase the company in 1950; for its entire time as a keyboard manufacturer, it was a division of Honeywell. Following on from mechanical and reed switches and keyboards, Micro Switch introduced the world’s first solid state keyboards around 1968 with the Hall effect–based SW Series. This was succeeded by SD Series in 1975, also Hall effect. Honeywell continued to advertise Micro Switch solid state computer keyboards and switches through 1999, which is the last known instance of these products. Their product range also encompassed conductive and capacitive membrane keyboards, as well as straightforward rubber dome keyboards."

Scarlet Leverton

Audrey's Daughter

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What is a funny story about Audrey?

"Every time I would check on or visit Audrey she would laugh and laugh. Not sure why but I guess I must have looked funny to her. Every. Single. Time. I will remember her laugh. As told by Kim Business Manager Medina Nursing Home"

Scarlet Leverton

Audrey's Daughter

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Tree planted in  a Forest in Need

"In loving memory of Audrey, who will be missed by so many. May this tree grow tall and strong as a living tribute to the beautiful soul that touched so many lives."

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Tree planted in a Forest in Need

Gifted by Brian

Learn About Tree Planting

How did Audrey make the world a better place?

"In Audrey’s retirement she became employed by Lutheran Social Services. She was an in home aid cooking, cleaning, and general comfort keeping for the elderly in Freeport. She also worked for a time at Taylor Park Elementary School as a crossing guard and in the lunchroom. She shared her helpers heart wherever she could."

Scarlet Leverton

Audrey's Daughter

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Scarlet Leverton

Audrey's Daughter

Funny story - When your mom was still attending here, I believe she had a bright blue winter coat and I had an almost identical one. She accidently took my coat one Sunday and so I got to meet your mom when we met to exchange coats and return them back to their correct owners. 🥰 Our condolences to you and your family! Mel Graham Office Manager Park Hills Church

What is something interesting about Audrey that others might not know?

"My earliest memories are choir practice on Wednesday night at the Freeport Methodist Church. Audrey had a beautiful, powerful soprano voice. Piano and organ music filled the sanctuary as they practiced. I would be in children’s church or kids bible study so I never heard the songs on Sunday. It was a mixed choir and Jerry Carpenter sang with her. They remained friends for years. We had a piano in the house and she played many different styles. I recall popular music from Olivia Newton John and Barbara Streisand in addition to the hymns. My last memory with her is being able to play piano meditation music for her from YouTube on my phone when she was in her last hours."

Scarlet Leverton

Audrey's Daughter

SL

Show your love and support to Audrey's family by adding your name to Audrey's Guestbook.

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Provided by McCorkle Funeral Home (Durand)

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Audrey LaBorde

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