Obituary of Audrey Teresa (Auer) Rutkowski

Dear Mom, God called you home on December 9, 2020. How you spent your 85 years on earth was a gift to all of us. You taught us so much. You taught us to love unconditionally. You taught us the importance of family and that dinner together was one of the best ways to keep communication alive and to find out what everyone learned that day. You taught us the value of taking risks and that engagement like this was important your whole life, whether it was learning to do tequila shots at 50, learning to basket weave at 60 or dancing at a birthday bash at 84. Being a University of Detroit graduate of 1958, you taught us the value of education and college for us was naturally the next step. You modeled a strong work ethic through your professional life at the University of Detroit, Cranbrook, and Wayne State University. We all chose to follow in your footsteps, working in education as well. You taught us the impact of volunteering and serving others. You worked with the PTC and the Girl Scouts, as a Sunday school teacher, and jumped to the aid of anyone in need. You taught us that love is beautiful. Like the way you loved dad, for over fifty-seven years. You join Bipper who went home in March 2019. Watching the two of you together was like attending a master class in love, friendship, and faith. And you showed us how to carry on when dad died and left an unrepairable hole in our hearts. Raising three daughters (Ann Marie Hoffman, Grace Elizabeth Damerow, and Mary Margaret Skorupski) taught you many lessons in patience, how to dig a pit toilet at camp, and how to mediate between three teenagers. Being raised by you taught us to be strong and independent women, and to have high expectations in terms of the kind of men that we chose to have in our lives. You loved Mark Hoffman, Ken Damerow, and Mark Skorupski as your own sons, unconditionally, and sometimes more than you loved us. :) Thank you for rejoicing in them, always reminding them how much you valued them in our lives. You taught us that a persons true measure is found in their integrity and credibility and that trust and honesty are simply expectations especially when youve made mistakes. Honesty above everything else should be witnessed with your words and actions; making sure to return that extra 10 cents to the cashier that made a mistake. You taught us that splurging once in a while was a necessity. You taught us to speak our minds and stand up for what is right, even if it means standing on the couch to equal the playing field and be heard. You taught us that breaking bread together leads to amazing conversations; that ice cream will make you smile and make the rough days more bearable; that a sweet tooth isnt bad, with some moderation, and that sneaking out for a coney dog when you knew dad was making his famous "stew" was okay. You taught us how important sisters are across your life-span. You taught us that no matter how much you may disagree that sisters are there for each other in laughs, cries, comfort, and support. You taught us that family is the greatest gift, whether its family youre born into or family that you create. Your love of travel and exploration created a similar wanderlust in us. The family trip to Alaska for your 50th wedding anniversary filled our hearts with love, adventure and baked-Alaska. You taught us that you shouldnt judge yourself too much especially when you are laughing so hard that you pee your pants. We now all come prepared! You taught us to appreciate the wind in our hair; be it bicycle, dirtbike or hitching a ride with a Harley-dude. You taught us that the greatest praise one human can offer another is to call them "friend" especially "lifelong friend". You taught us that cussing is acceptable among friends, and that it will shock your grandchildren. In later years you taught us to be irreverent when those around you needed to laugh and not take life so seriously. You taught us to nurture our creative sides. You decoupaged, painted, wove baskets, crocheted, sewed and loved to share these skills with family and friends. You taught us that mom hugs have healing powers…even when a teenager doesnt want one. Eventually, this became true of gramma-lama hugs. You showed us the pure joy of becoming a grandmother. Your grandchildren,Patrick Hoffman; Alice and Ryan Frame; Peter, Gabrielle, and Isabella Damerow; Nicholas and Madison Skorupski and great-grandchild: Audrey Frame, loved your hugs, climbing trees, bike riding, basket weaving, and sneaking off for ice cream. You taught us the importance of traditions whether it was breaking in a new beverage at the holidays; keeping the porch light on, homemade cheesecake, baking holiday cookies or Black Friday shopping. You shared us easily with the families we married into because there can never be too many people who love your children. You taught us to make the best of any situation. We remember the time that you fell and bruised your face. Rather than lament, you chose to become a zombie to make your grandchildren laugh. You taught us the love of reading. This has created the legacy of a new generation of avid readers, and that there is nothing wrong with reading a good trashy novel once in a while. You taught us that living a life filled with love and laughter will leave a lasting imprint. You left that imprint on generations. On individuals. On us. Go now. Join Dad, Orb and Alice and all the loved ones that have gone before you. Dance together in the music and light of the Holy Trinity. You leave behind many who love you: your sisters, Margaret Auer and Carolyn Doncea; your-in laws; your children, their spouses, grandchildren and great grandchild; your nieces and nephews; and your friends, too numerous to name. Life gave us the gift of you, Mom. That gift lives on in us and in your grandchildren and great-grandchild. Thank you for loving us well. Your daughters, Ann Marie, Grace Elizabeth & Mary Margaret Our Mom was kind, loving, and lived in the service of others. Please consider doing a quiet act of kindness in her honor. In lieu of flowers the family requests donations be made to the following charity: Alzheimer's Association Michigan Chapter 25200 Telegraph Rd., Suite 1 Southfield, MI 48033 Or online at https://www.alz.org/gmc Cards and notes to the family can be sent to Audrey Rutkowski estate ℅ Mary Skorupski 6461 Ancroft Ct., Clarkston, MI 48346 Funeral information: Virtual Mass Saturday, December 19, 2020 @ 9:00am See live stream of mass at https://www.facebook.com/cvideosolutions