AUDREY JEAN LEHMANN

It is with great sadness that we announce the peaceful passing of our mother, grandmother, sister, and aunt. 

Audrey was predeceased by her parents, Arthur and Marguerita Bateman; her brother Jim Bateman; and dear friend August. Audrey leaves behind her three daughters, Wendy Simoens (Roger), Janice Lehmann (Brad), and Deborah Audia (Alan); her four granddaughters, Joanna, Madeline (Thailan), Gianna, and Kinsley; her sister Beth (Rick); sister-in-law Shirley; several nieces and nephews; and Hans, the father of her children.

Born and raised in Portage La Prairie, Audrey was the eldest daughter of Arthur and Marguerita Bateman, and older sister to siblings Jim and Beth.

In her youth, she had an aptitude for music and studied piano, achieving Level 10 with the Royal Conservatory of Music. As a young woman, Audrey attended Briercrest Bible College in Saskatchewan and the Teachers’ College in Winnipeg. Eventually she settled in Great Falls, a closely-knit community overlooking the Winnipeg River. There, she met Hans (married in 1965), raised their three daughters, and would remain in the community until 2022. She loved country life and kept a big garden. She took great joy in preparing meals with her home-grown vegetables and her family has many happy memories of planting and harvesting the garden together.

Throughout her life, Audrey was an educator, both in school classrooms and in front of the piano. She was a schoolteacher in Norway House, The Pas, Great Falls, and in the Agassiz School Division. Sharing her love of music was one of Audrey’s passions. Over the years she had many private piano and organ students of all ages and later taught using the Music for Young Children curriculum. She was always proud of her students’ achievements when they participated in the regional or provincial Music Festivals or passed their Royal Conservatory of Music exams.

Audrey was an active member of the Lutheran Church of the Cross congregation in Lac du Bonnet, providing many decades of service leading Sunday School classes, and serving as pianist or organist for services, choirs, weddings and funerals. An avid volunteer, she was a long standing member of the Great Falls Women’s Institute (WI), helped with the 4H Club, and provided musical enrichment for residents at the personal care home in Lac du Bonnet. Audrey’s other talents included cooking, baking, preserving, cake decorating, sewing, knitting and crochet and she enjoyed photography, curling and bowling in her younger days.

Above all, Audrey’s greatest joy in life was being a mother and grandmother. She loved family celebrations and enjoyed recognizing each milestone by sending us cards for holidays, birthdays, and achievements. She was always a proud attendee at our graduations, weddings, concerts, and more.

In 2022 she made a move to Winnipeg and enjoyed being closer to her family, although Great Falls would always be considered her “little slice of heaven”.

Audrey always counted her many blessings and she was so fortunate to have had the support of her dear neighbours: Heather and Kelly P, and Heather O, as well as long time friends Gail & Bud and good friend Heather F. She was very grateful for their companionship, tea and talks about life, snow clearing, home cooked meals, delivery of the latest edition of “Our Daily Bread” and more.

The family would like to thank the staff at The Westhaven and Oakview Place, and the WRHA home care workers for their caring and compassionate support of Audrey during her final years.

Audrey's Celebration of Life will be held at 2:00 p.m. on Monday, July 7, 2025 at 603 Wellingtin Crescent at Academy Road (Unitarian facility). 

In lieu of flowers, please consider a donation to Sistema Winnipeg in Audrey’s memory. Sistema promotes accessible music education for children in at-risk communities.

Audrey’s family kindly requests that all of her friends and relatives take a few minutes to honour her memory by sharing photos, memories, and stories, using the comment section on this page.

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ETHICAL DEATH CARE

Cremation & Life Celebrations

1833 Portage Avenue - Winnipeg

204-421-5501 - www.ethicaldeathcare.com

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