Mary L. (Barney) Audette

Mary Lou Audette, 82, of York Maine drew her last breaths in this world surrounded by her family and the love and fond memories of countless friends on October 5th. She had the strength of will of a planet and a heart to match. If you were fortunate enough to pass near her orbit, you would have felt her tug upon you to stop and talk a while and, of course, eat something. If you were more fortunate to find yourself permanently locked into her orbit, you became part of her family, and she viewed all her friends as her family. Making and maintaining connections was truly at the heart of who she was as a human being.

Mary Lou was born in Wellesley, Massachusetts on April 28, 1942, where she spent her early years until the death of her father, Giles Barney. While still very young, she moved to Marlborough with her mother Doris Barney (Brodeur), where she lived with an extended family of grandparents, aunts, uncles, and neighbors. Here she eventually fell in love with Jean Marie Audette and he agreed to enter her orbit permanently. For 51 years he acted as her Moon. Together they traveled through the universe influencing the paths of those around them always drawing new friends into their sphere of influence. They only lived alone for a short time once they were married until their youngest child moved out at the age of 29. There was always room for one more, always an extra plate, and anyone who needed a place to stay was welcomed into their home and their hearts. The whole neighborhood knew where the spare key was located.

For almost 40 years, Mary Lou’s seat of influence centered on the Marlborough Public Library where as the Head Children’s Librarian, she constantly drew people close to her. Within 5 minutes of meeting you, she would extract your life story and all of your relations. The author Frigyes Karinthy posited that there are six degrees of separation between you and anyone else on the Earth. If you knew Mary Lou, then you were most likely only four degrees of separation from anyone else. You were also more likely to be well-fed.

Upon their retirement in 2006, Mary Lou and Jean moved permanently to York, Maine. They spent their summers at their home on Pointe Brulee, Shippagan, New Brunswick. Although she was not a native to the town, she was well-known and loved. She summered there for years, spending countless hours with extended family and friends while welcoming friends from the United States to visit. For years, their home felt like the center of the universe until she lost her Moon in 2013. Then, the indomitable force of nature that she was, packed up the center of the universe and set it up in a small apartment in York Harbor where she continued to pull new friends into her orbit and ensured that everyone in her building was well-fed.

Though she left this world reluctantly, there were so many people she hadn’t cooked for, she did leave the orbits of everyone she encountered permanently altered. Some few, in more chaotic orbits but the vast majority, in better, more stable ones.

Mary Lou has left behind her son, James F. Audette and his wife Cécile of Baltimore, MD; his daughters, Julie A. Audette of Freeport, ME, Jacqueline A. Kaye and her husband Daniel of Millis, MA, and Kristin Quinzani and her husband Mark of Millis, MA. She left behind her grandchildren, Alex, Renée, Thomas, Matthew, Abigail, Elizabeth, Adam, Kyle, and Nicholas. In addition to her husband Jean Marie, she was predeceased by her sister Phyllis Bruster. 

Calling hours for Mary Lou will be held from 4 to 7 pm on Thursday, October 10th in the Lucas & Eaton Funeral Home, 91 Long Sands Rd., York, Maine. A funeral Mass will be celebrated at 2 pm on Friday, October 11th in St. Christopher’s Church, 4 Barrell Lane, York, Maine. Burial will follow in the First Parish Cemetery, 180 York Street, York, Maine.

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