Obituary of Audrey F Thompson

Audrey F. Thompson, 96 of Rockaway, NJ

February 8, 1928 – August 19, 2024

A bright star in the universe of our families lives has been extinguished.

Audrey F. Thompson (nee Coolbaugh) of Rockaway, passed peacefully on Monday, August 19, 2024. 

Born on February 8, 1928, Audrey was the daughter of the late Arthur and Gertrude (nee Deming) Coolbaugh.  Audrey had a long, full life, filled with family and love.  She had a distinguished career in the food industry having been a chef and restaurant owner. Her customers came from miles away just to get some of Aud’s famous Lobster bisque.  She was an amazing cook.

Later in life after semi-retiring  she went on to work for the Rockaway Township School System as a cook, specifically working at Stonybrook School. She had a great career there, until her full retirement.

Audrey enjoyed her time volunteering with the Elks for many years with her husband, before becoming a  member herself in 2002.  She was involved in the Rockaway Elks Lodge as a member of the Auxiliary, later becoming involved with the Dover Elks Lodge as a member of the Emblem club and then becoming an Elk herself, and then later her current home lodge Lake Hopatcong Elks #782. Audrey volunteered with her late husband Bill to help veterans, youth, and special children. She was a member of the Northwest District Special Children’s committee, having volunteered for 35 years.  Audrey was always helping out by cooking for one event or another and always would lend a helping hand to anyone who needed it. She especially loved her special children. In her spare time, she was an avid reader, solver of crossword puzzles, loved to crochet, and enjoyed watching Jeopardy, and the NY Yankees.  Later in life this became difficult for her with fading eyesight, and hearing loss, but Audrey always did her best to make the most of what she had.

Audrey loved her family, having a heart of gold, and would do anything for them.  She was an amazing mother, grandmother, and GG.  She was so unselfish that she chose to raise her two grandchildren, who became her kids.  Audrey was also the biological mother to 4 children. 

Audrey was preceded in death by her husband William A. Thompson, son Gerald Evans, granddaughter Elizabeth Evans, sister Nancy Trojanowicz, and brother Howard Coolbaugh. 

Audrey leaves behind daughter Linda Swanton (Dave) Roxbury, NJ, daughter Heidi McDonnell (Wayne) and son Bill Evans, Rockaway, NJ, son Robert Evans, Las Vegas, NV, and daughter Dawn McDonald, Wilmington, NC. Brothers Ronald Coolbaugh (Marge), Bill Coolbaugh, Arthur Coolbaugh (Pat) all of West Pittston, PA, and Perry Coolbaugh, Tunkhannock, PA. Her Best friend, and sister by choice, Patsy Craig, Livingston. Her grandchildren Jason Vics (Devin),  Tara Hempel (Travis) Traci Swanton, Jamie Evans, Melissa Rakos (Chad), Robert Evans, Ruel Lagrosa, Jennifer Azorgal, and Christopher Evans. Great Grandchildren Mackenzie, Bailey, Audrey, Adrianna, and Matt. As well as numerous nieces and nephews.

A celebration of life will be held on Saturday, September 14th from 11am to 3pm at  Lake Hopatcong Elks Lodge #782, 201 Howard Blvd. Mt. Arlington, NJ

In lieu of flowers we kindly ask for donations to the Lake Hopatcong Elks Peer Leadership Program (Checks payable to Lake Hopatcong Elks, in memo Peer Leadership, and send Attention: Robert Ricker, 201 Howard Blvd, Mt. Arlington, NJ 07856), which will benefit our youth and special children. .