Audrey Amelia Swartz Dugan died on Oct. 1 from natural causes. She was 84.
Audrey was born in Oak Bluffs and carried with her throughout her life a deep connection to the Island she called home.
To so many people, she was like an angel. She had a kind and generous heart, a gentle spirit and a loving personality that made people feel welcomed, cared for and loved. Her kindness was genuine and unconditional, and she had a special gift for making those around her feel that they mattered. She touched countless lives simply by being herself.
She had a special love for children. For many years, she opened her home and her heart, caring for them with the same tenderness and love she gave her own family. She continued caring for them well into her later years, creating a warm and loving home where countless children felt safe, welcomed and loved. The children she cared for became a cherished part of her life, and her love for them was something she carried in her heart always.
She loved the Lord and had an enormous, unwavering faith. Her faith was a source of strength, comfort and peace throughout her life. She trusted in God’s love and held firmly to her faith, sharing that love and kindness with others wherever she went.
She was preceded in death by her loving husband, Felix Dugan; her beloved son, Thomas Dugan; and her grandson, Bradley Thomas Gilbertsen, who passed away in infancy.
She will be lovingly remembered by her children, Debora Dugan, James Dugan, and Kathryn Gilbertsen and her husband, Roy; her sister, Cynthia Baker; and her brother, Robert Swartz. She was a devoted grandmother to seven grandchildren and a proud great-grandmother to three great-grandchildren.
Family was at the center of Audrey’s heart. She treasured the people she loved and found great joy in being a mother, grandmother and great-grandmother. Her love was a gift that she gave freely and without condition.
Audrey’s passing leaves an immeasurable emptiness in the lives of those who loved her. Yet her family and friends can take comfort in the beautiful legacy she leaves behind — a legacy of kindness, compassion, faith, and unconditional love. The many lives she touched will forever carry a piece of her gentle spirit with them.
Audrey will be deeply missed, forever loved, and always remembered as the beautiful soul and angel she was to so many. Her family finds comfort in knowing that she is now at peace, reunited with those she loved who went before her, and resting in the loving arms of the Lord.