Audrey Dale Callan

1982 – 2023

 

         The family of Audrey Dale Callan is heartbroken to announce her sudden passing on January 4th, 2023, in Fort McMurray, Alberta. She was only 40 years old.

         She is survived by her two treasured daughters, Maycie Callan and Harper MacLellan and stepson, Seth MacLellan; father, Melvin Callan (Connie Mueller) and mother, Sheila Callan; sister, Sarah Callan (Robert MacLellan); and nieces: Ryleigh, Morgan, Jessie, and Taylor. She was predeceased, by her grandmother, Lorraine Marie Woodcock and grandfather, John Dennis Martin Harper.

         Audrey grew up in Fort McMurray. She assessed as being highly gifted when she started school, but her superpower was making friends. She made countless friends while attending Dickensfield and Westwood Schools, many remaining in her life decades later. She loved art, winning a prize in high school for a beautiful angel sculpture she spent months perfecting. Upon graduation, Audrey went on to become a journeyman millwright working at Suncor, Syncrude and other companies. She was proud of breaking ground as a female and Métis tradeswoman. Above all, her two daughters were her proudest achievements.

         Audrey lit up the world. She was fearless, brave, intelligent, fun loving, empathetic, funny and kind. She loved her family so much and her children were the core of her being. Breathtakingly beautiful, she always tried to look her best. She had countless friends, but few knew how fragile she was inside. She was kind, frequently offering a temporary refuge for friends in her home. Walking in nature, boating with family, or getting together with her friends were her favourite activities. She was always trying to master something new, lately, becoming an excellent cook. Astronomy and science were another recent obsession. She adored all types of music, but her favourite was punk rock which she usually had blasting on the nearest speaker. Audrey dreamed of touring the world and went on trips to exotic places whenever possible. Despite being a talented millwright, she still wanted to add more tickets to her skillset. She had the soul of an artist. She was always doing something artistic: painting, decorating, writing, sculpting – creating beauty in the world.

         From early adolescence Audrey struggled with severe mental illness. Before diagnosis, she turned to drugs to treat her symptoms, eventually developing addictions that vastly exacerbated her illness. As her illness worsened, she was unable to care for her daughters but always hoped she would get well enough to be a bigger part of their lives. She fought so hard, rebuilding her life, only to have it fall to pieces again and again as her illness and addiction progressed. Judgement by those who did not understand her struggle caused her enormous pain. We tried to love her pain away and surrounded her with all the support and help she would allow. Audrey heroically fought her twin demons until they finally took her life.

       A Visitation will be held at 1:00pm on Saturday February 18, 2023 at MacDonald Island Park, 1 C. A. Knight Wy, Fort McMurray, AB, in the Miskanaw Ballroom.

         A Funeral Service will be held at 2:00pm on Saturday February 18, 2023 at MacDonald Island Park, in the Miskanaw Ballroom with a Reception to follow. 

         The Miskanaw Ballroom is located on the second floor of the MacDonald Island Park. It can be reached via the stairs near the Second Cup or through the Miskinaw Golf Course Entrance stairs. The elevator is located near the curling rink.

          I hope all her friends can come to see her and say goodbye. If anyone would like to make donations in Audrey’s name, please consider the Salvation Army, who helped her so much, or the Mark Amy Treatment Centre.

She is Gone

by David Harkins

You can shed tears that she is gone,
or you can smile because she has lived.
You can close your eyes and pray that she’ll come back,
or you can open your eyes and see all she’s left.
Your heart can be empty because you can’t see her,
or you can be full of the love you shared.
You can turn your back on tomorrow and live yesterday,
or you can be happy for tomorrow because of yesterday.
You can remember her only that she is gone,
or you can cherish her memory and let it live on.
You can cry and close your mind,
be empty and turn your back.
Or you can do what she’d want:
smile, open your eyes, love and go on.