Audrey V. Rogers

CALAIS - Loving mother, wife, grandmother and great-grandmother Audrey V. Rogers passed away on February 25, 2016, at the University of Vermont Medical Center in Burlington, surrounded by her children, grandchildren and her husband, David E. Rogers.
Audrey was born on August 6, 1938, in Garfield, New Jersey, and attended #2 School in Garfield, and Clifton High School. Having lost her own mother at the age of five, Audrey told stories of being raised in a three-story home by her loving "Granny," Anna Nagy, her beloved aunt and uncle, Etsy and Marchel Kaczmarek, and her older sister and brother-in-law, Joan and Rudy Thomann - three generations, one on each floor. She was very close with her sister, Joan. Her cousins, Carol and Ethel, were like sisters and Bobby, like a brother, so much so that her nickname was "Sis" and to this day, she is known by her nieces and nephews as "Aunt Sis."
Audrey's childhood friends, Phyllis Klee and Eleanor Coles, had also been an important, loving and supportive part of her life since they were small children in the Hungarian/Polish section of Garfield. There are some pretty great stories about these three as young girls. Though they each had less than ideal circumstances growing up, they had each other and what a treasure that had been for a lifetime. Audrey is remembered by them and by her cousins, even as a child, to be the kindest person they had ever known, who was also courageous and adventurous with a great sense of humor.
She was proud of her Hungarian heritage and often told the story of her grandmother coming to the U.S. by boat, all alone, when she was just 17. Audrey came from a long line of strong, adventurous women. She loved music and dancing, especially the jitterbug, which she later happily taught to her kids and grandkids. She loved fishing so much so that she became legendary for her fishing prowess, and known to all as the person on the boat who would catch "the first, the most and the biggest" fish. She was also the only grandmother around who could drive an airboat around Dead Man's Pass.
Audrey's deepest love as an adult, however, was her children, grandchildren and great-grandchildren. There are no words to describe the selfless, non-judgmental, unconditional love that Audrey had given to them. Her children marvel that they never once heard their mother say a negative word about another human being. She accepted every stray kid, dog, kitten (and even a monkey), that they would bring into her home. Audrey's heart was so big and her arms so open that any friend of her kids was accepted as a child of her own into her heart. She treated everyone with kindness under all circumstances. Her ability to give love is an inspiration to all who have known her.
Audrey was also an artist at heart. Anything she created would shine with the beauty of her spirit. She loved photography and painting with watercolors, and most recently took up rug hooking with a group of beloved friends here in Vermont. Audrey embodied beauty as much as she radiated love. She had a passion for flowers and her home is surrounded with the plants and seeds she had sown and nurtured in her gardens, which will bring pleasure and memories to her family for years to come. She also made for every special occasion the most amazing cheesecake and chicken paprikash.
Audrey lived with her beloved husband, David, in the home they built together in Calais. She gave endlessly to her husband with all her heart and they both enjoyed the comfort and joy of their very large family gathering together. Audrey and David enjoyed the great outdoors together and would bring their family of nearly 40 adults and children together for yearly camping trips on the Connecticut River, and for every holiday at their home. Audrey and David had many wonderful adventures, from Lake Champlain, to Steinhachee, Florida, The Fryeburg Fair in Maine and road trips across the country. They enjoyed each other's company for 33 years.
Audrey leaves behind her children, Peg Tassey, Ken Tassey, Nancy Buonanno and Scott Tassey; their spouses, Indigo Ruth-Davis, Kazuko Tassey, Rick Buonanno and Nancy Tassey; her grandchildren, Audrey Tassey Ayer, Brian Tassey, Michi Tassey, Sam Tassey, Robert Buonanno, Emma Buonanno, Joe Buonanno, Kristin Darcy, Scott Tassey Jr., Desirae Tassey, Mathew Tassey; great-grandchildren Ella Darcy, Lily Darcy, MacKenzie Tassey and Mason Tassey; her stepchildren, Wendy Rivera, Charles Harmon, Jennifer Goodell; their spouses, Emily Harmon, Mike Goodell; step-grandchildren Elizabeth Rivera, Joe Rivera, Brianna Rivera, Suzannah Harmon, Leif Harmon and Julia Goodell.
Audrey was a truly unique human being and as Papa (David) says, "She is a one of a kind." She will be deeply, deeply missed by her family and friends, and all that have had the pleasure to see her smile and feel the love she so easily gave.
There will be a service at the First Presbyterian Church, 78 Summer St. in Barre, at 11 a.m. on Wednesday, March 2, 2016. Calling hours will be from 10 to 10:30 a.m. The burial service will be in the Hope Cemetery in Barre following the service, with a light luncheon back at the church afterwards. Those wishing to pay their respects and celebrate Audrey's beautiful life are welcome.
Arrangements are in the care of the Pruneau-Polli Funeral Home, 58 Summer St., Barre.