Obituary of Audrey Willette

Rose Audrey Willette, a loving wife of 52 years, and devoted mother, grandmother, and great grandmother passed away after a brief illness at the Lahey Clinic Medical Center on Thursday night, September 4, 2008. She was 85 years old. Audrey was born in Somerville, the daughter of the late John and Mary Katherine Enos. She grew up and was educated in Somerville. After her marriage to her late husband Norval, they chose to move from the city to a new housing development in a small but growing town of Burlington. She loved her home and even took pleasure cleaning it and maintaining her yard. She resided in her home in Burlington for 50 years until moving to Sunrise Assisted Living in 2007. Audrey had worked for over 25 years for Jordan Marsh. She worked in the Boston store in the 1940’s until starting her family. Decades later she returned to Jordan Marsh, Burlington Mall Store. Audrey like to say that “I opened the store” as she was hired when the Burlington Mall was under construction and was working on the floor the first day the store and mall opened in 1968. She retired in 1989. The expression “Work Hard, Play Hard” applied to Audrey. She was a dedicated and hard working woman, but also had a side of her that made friends easily and enjoyed to joke around and laugh at work and play. She was a pleasure to work with. Audrey’s interests were many. She loved going to the beach in Gloucester. She revered her family and friends, and cherished the many family gatherings, birthdays, holiday parties, and other important events they shared together. She was an avid sports fan. Audrey was a life long Red Sox Fan. She was also a football enthusiast and was looking forward to following the Patriots and Boston College Eagles this year. She enjoyed traveling with her husband to Florida. She was a proud and patriotic American who knew the importance of voting and supporting the military. She was very proud of her husband and brothers, all of whom served in the U.S. Navy. They traveled throughout the United States to attend the Navy conventions. She was a past member of the Ladies Auxiliary at the Burlington American Legion, Post 273. After the tragic events of September 11th, she was the first on her street to have her American Flag hanging on her home. She was part of what Tom Brokaw described as the “Greatest Generation” and will be lovingly remembered for her love of family, friends, and country. Audrey was the beloved wife of the late Norval K. Willette. She was the loving mother of Deborah McNeil & her husband Larry of Wakefield and the late Daniel Willette. She was predeceased, by her siblings; Edna Turner, John & Richard Enos. She was the devoted grandmother of Anissa Willette of Burlington, Katherine Willette of Hudson, NH, Daniel Willette of Hudson, NH, Michael McNeil of Ft. Myers, FL, Jay McNeil of Wakefield, and the late Marc McNeil and proud great grandmother of Dakota, Kayla, John, & Nicholas Willette of Burlington. Audrey was also survived by many nieces and nephews. A memorial mass will be celebrated on Saturday, Sept. 13 at 10 a.m. at St. Margaret’s Church, 111 Winn St., Burlington. Relatives and friends are respectfully invited. Interment will be private. Memorials in Audrey’s name may be made to the American Heart Association, 20 Speen St., Framingham, MA 01701.