Mom finally came home.
It was October, 2018, when I left for South Carolina to rescue my mother, Audrey Connelly. I can't believe it has been 2 years this October. It has been the hardest 2 years of my life.
I quit my jobs and left my home in Georgia for 6 months to help her get started on dialysis for stage 5 kidney disease shortly after her hospitalization. Between her diabetes and kidney disease, she was very ill, and almost lost her life prior to getting her diet right and on dialysis treatments 3 days a week. We were told she became the healthiest patient in the dialysis clinics once she settled in with care.
My husband and I work hard to get her affairs in order while caring for her and making a home for her at our place at Lake Arrowhead in Georgia. And she happily resided here until December 2019 when she became sick with a UTI and had to go to a rehab facility. My husband and I continued to transport her to and from dialysis treatments several times a week and numerous doctor appointments. We saw her daily.
Just prior to her release, she broke her arm. She was transfered to the hospital and then a nursing center to recover. She was there for a couple months when the threat of Covid19 became real. After being with my mother nearly ever single day, they shut down the facility to all visitors due to the Covid19 crisis. We could only talk to her on the phone. We had much separation anxiety and it was difficult.
But she was due to come home May 7, the Thursday before Mother's Day. We kept telling her..."You'll be coming home real soon mom." A week before she came home, she was tested for Covid19. Though she was, at first, asymptomatic, she tested positive. Once we were given those results, she started showing symptoms and things took a turn for the worse. The virus took her quickly. She was almost home. Since then she was cremated and we finally, did, bring her home.
The family had discussed having her laid to rest at the family plot in Florida her parents, C. J. & Elizabeth Rolls, had set aside for her. My mother's family have since decided not to move forward with provisions for a burial but instead it seems they have had a private celebration of life in Florida with a few family members.
The good news is my mother did make it home here at Lake Arrowhead in Georgia and she is still with us. Her birthday is Saturday, December 19. On that special day, my husband and I would love for friends and family, whom want to pay their last respects and celebrate the life of Audrey Elizabeth Rolls Connelly, to do so at the last place she called home, Lake Arrowhead.
Please RSVP via text or phone call to 678-525-5880 by October 31, 2020.
Please share in her memory by posting messages and photos for all.
Audrey Elizabeth Rolls Connelly passed away on Monday, May 4, 2020 at age 77. She was born in Birmingham, Alabama, on December 19, 1942.
She was driven by her love in caring for others. Therefore, early in her life, she naturally became a devoted nurse in which all her patients loved dearly. She continued in that profession until her retirement.
Audrey loved the Lord with all her heart and had anxiously awaited the day she would look full in his wonderful face. She missed those who had passed before her and knew one day she would be joined with them in celebration. She was preceded in death by her spouse, Albert Pickney Connelly; her parents, Cecil Johnson Rolls & Elizabeth Mealey Rolls; her sister, Margie Mendez Parker; & her Niece Rosemary Parker.
Audrey is survived by her 3 daughters, Lori Elizabeth Field; Cynthia Suzanne Villard & son in-law (Marty) Martin A. Villard; & Sharon Rene Smith & son in-law A. Wollaston Smith III; 6 grandchildren, Shawna Cox; Jason Lott; Ryan Villard; Samantha Palmer; Joshua Smith; & Justin Smith; and 9 great grandchildren. She was also survived by her brother, Cecil Johnson Rolls Jr. & sister in-law Judy Jacobs Rolls; 3 Nephews, William Parker; Terry Parker; & John Rolls; 2 nieces, Mary Smith; & Jennifer Green; and many other family & friends...and last but not least her dog, Ari, whom she adored.
A celebration of life will take place later this year due to the world pandemic and will be posted on this site.
Online Condolences can be expressed for any of the following in which were dear to Audrey’s heart:
The Tryon Seventh Day Adventist Church, where Audrey was a member & attended church services while living in Campobello, SC: https://adventistgiving.org/#/org/ANT8M6/envelope/start
Shoals Creek Church: A small local church in Canton, GA, established in 1839; where Audrey sometimes participated in missions, bible studies, & church services while living in Waleska, GA – Select the Growth Building Fund @: https://faithlife.com/scbc-canton-ga/give
The Foothills Humane Society: where Audrey adopted a couple dogs, including her dog Ari: https://www.foothillshumanesociety.org/honorarium/
Please share in her memory by posting messages and photos for all.