Audrey
Audrey Manson Menke
d. December 18, 2020
Audrey (Manson) Menke, of Sewickley, PA, formerly of Mt. Lebanon, passed away Friday December 18th. She is survived by her husband of 73 years, Kenneth, daughters Karen (Michael) Paciorek of Novi, MI and Janice (Kim) Abraham of Alexandria, VA. Grandchildren, Clark (Jillian Prior) Paciorek, Clay (Ellie) Paciorek and Lena (Alex) Dremonas and 3 great grandchildren Davis, Ada Mae Audrey and Maxwell. Also surviving, a niece and cousins.
Daughter of Flora Chiff Hicks and Maurice Stephen Manson half sister of Marie Hicks Manson all who preceded her in death. She was born in Philadelphia, PA. and raised for many years by her late aunt and uncle Lena and Charles Liebert of McDonald, PA
Audrey worked for over 35 years for Koppers Co. Inc.in Pittsburgh in the tax and legal departments. After retiring she entered the travel business and for 30 years organized group and individual trips all over the world. She and her husband, Ken, were always planning a trip, traveling somewhere or just returned from an adventure. Her attention to detail made every trip not only educational but highly enjoyable. When her daughters wanted to take her on a trip for her 75th birthday and asked her where she wanted to go, Audrey replied, "I really like London." They traveled to London for Audrey's 13th trip to the city. She was the consummate volunteer and entertainer for their large circle of friends. Audrey's favorite charity was Pittsburgh History and Landmarks Foundation(PHLF) where as a docent she could be found walking around Pittsburgh surrounded by 25 school children or visitors to the city,necks craned high into the sky, looking for one of the many architectural treasures found around the city. Audrey's mother's first husband passed away due to the 1918 flu pandemic. The same week Audrey's half sister Marie was born. Seven years later her mother married Audrey's father and she was born the next year. She was extremely bright and especially strong in math. She graduated first in her high school class in 1944 and received a scholarship to attend Radcliffe College, Harvard's Women's College. Unfortunately, at the height of WWII, she did not have the funds for travel to Boston so could not attend and started work at Koppers Company in Pittsburgh on D-Day, 4 days after graduation. She became an orphan at age 18 after her mother passed away and married her husband of 73 years, Kenneth who was her high school sweetheart, in 1947 after his service in WWII. He survives.
Audrey was in the initial wave of full time working mothers in the early 1960s when child care for her two young daughters was not easy to find. Audrey was always the first to reach out to anyone in need and even in the hospital, with great difficulty trying to talk after her stroke, said "Thank you" to the nurses caring for her. We all should be so fortunate to live a long life filled with travel, fabulous friends and a loving family.
Any memorials may be sent to Menke Education Fund PHLF 1 Station Sq. Suite 450 Pittsburgh, PA. 15219 or through this link: https://phlf.org/take-action/donate/
Daughter of Flora Chiff Hicks and Maurice Stephen Manson half sister of Marie Hicks Manson all who preceded her in death. She was born in Philadelphia, PA. and raised for many years by her late aunt and uncle Lena and Charles Liebert of McDonald, PA
Audrey worked for over 35 years for Koppers Co. Inc.in Pittsburgh in the tax and legal departments. After retiring she entered the travel business and for 30 years organized group and individual trips all over the world. She and her husband, Ken, were always planning a trip, traveling somewhere or just returned from an adventure. Her attention to detail made every trip not only educational but highly enjoyable. When her daughters wanted to take her on a trip for her 75th birthday and asked her where she wanted to go, Audrey replied, "I really like London." They traveled to London for Audrey's 13th trip to the city. She was the consummate volunteer and entertainer for their large circle of friends. Audrey's favorite charity was Pittsburgh History and Landmarks Foundation(PHLF) where as a docent she could be found walking around Pittsburgh surrounded by 25 school children or visitors to the city,necks craned high into the sky, looking for one of the many architectural treasures found around the city. Audrey's mother's first husband passed away due to the 1918 flu pandemic. The same week Audrey's half sister Marie was born. Seven years later her mother married Audrey's father and she was born the next year. She was extremely bright and especially strong in math. She graduated first in her high school class in 1944 and received a scholarship to attend Radcliffe College, Harvard's Women's College. Unfortunately, at the height of WWII, she did not have the funds for travel to Boston so could not attend and started work at Koppers Company in Pittsburgh on D-Day, 4 days after graduation. She became an orphan at age 18 after her mother passed away and married her husband of 73 years, Kenneth who was her high school sweetheart, in 1947 after his service in WWII. He survives.
Audrey was in the initial wave of full time working mothers in the early 1960s when child care for her two young daughters was not easy to find. Audrey was always the first to reach out to anyone in need and even in the hospital, with great difficulty trying to talk after her stroke, said "Thank you" to the nurses caring for her. We all should be so fortunate to live a long life filled with travel, fabulous friends and a loving family.
Any memorials may be sent to Menke Education Fund PHLF 1 Station Sq. Suite 450 Pittsburgh, PA. 15219 or through this link: https://phlf.org/take-action/donate/
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