Obituary of Audrey C. Lampman

1919-2014 Mrs. Audrey (Connelly) Lampman died peacefully at The Manor in Horseheads, NY, September 10, 2014, with several of her children in attendance. Audrey was married to John Freeman Lampman (deceased) for nearly 23 years, and had five children. She was predeceased by her son Terry L. Lampman, grandson Dana Carr, brothers Gerald and Darwin Connelly, and brother-in-law Harold Lampman. She is survived by daughter Linda L. (Richard) Carr, Horseheads NY; sons, Dewitt W. (Karen) Lampman, Pittsburgh PA; Craig L. (Kimberly) Lampman, Ashburn VA; Jared W. Lampman, Horseheads NY; and daughter-in-law Judy F. Lampman, Watkins Glen NY. Blessed with eight grandchildren, Jessica Carr (Nicholas) Romans, Providence RI; Staff Sergeant Ian (Jennifer) Lampman USMC, Camp Lejeune NC; Brett Lampman, Denver CO; Melissa (John) Lampman Davis, Sterling VA; Joshua John Lampman, NYC; Dexter (Nicole) Siglin, Boston MA; Leslie Lampman, Pittsburgh PA and Courtney Carr, Elmira NY; eight great grandchildren. Survived by a number of loving nieces and nephews, Audrey is also survived by her sister-in-law, and dear friend, Rena Lampman Anderson. Born August 22, 1919 in Elmira NY, to Harley and Edith Connelly. She graduated from Southside High School where she met her future husband John Lampman. John and Audrey were married in Hyannis MA, September 21, 1942, while John was serving in the United States Army. Together in Elmira, the two of them taught their children how to have a strong work ethic and learn life-long skills in entrepreneurship by their example. Audrey graduated from Bailey's Beauty College and opened her own shop in her parents' home on Holdridge Street. Meanwhile husband John was an accountant. As if that were not enough, with five children as well, they operated a grocery store and Audrey ran a laundry service out of their home! Sadly, John passed away March 23, 1964. As a widow, Audrey with great courage and conviction and with abiding faith as a lifelong member of Elmira's Central Christian Church, forged new entrepreneurial ground long before women's liberation by operating and maintaining yet again another successful business they had started. With the help of her children, Audrey operated a Tastee Freeze store in Watkins Glen NY from the 1950's to 1974, while holding down a full-time position in Food Services at Southside High School. Oh! …and in her spare (?) time, Audrey made sure each of her children sat down to weekly piano lessons, one-by-one, in their home, before school, volunteered in Girl Scouts and Boy Scouts, while encouraging and attending all of their school and church activities. Serving on a number of church boards and active in anything her church may have needed, Audrey was always generous in sharing her time. She also traveled to exotic places such as Jerusalem with friend Cleo, visited son Terry and Judy in Australia for several months and periodically visited domestic exotic places with several trips to California, and as recently as Spring 2014, Audrey flew to Florida with daughter Linda and son Jared. To her friends and family she was their 'quiet' hero. A true Christian who rarely complained, she had an abiding faith in God, was a mentor, a good friend, and an exemplary role model leading by example. And wow!, could she manage a dollar bill. She would remember and recite, without too much prompting, long and humorous 'readings' with dramatic flair! Audrey….what a wonderful life. A celebration of Audrey's 95 years will commence Saturday, September 27, 2014, with interment of her ashes, joining husband John, at Woodlawn Cemetery, Elmira NY at 11:00 AM. All are invited. Following will be a Memorial Service and Celebration of her remarkable life at Central Christian Church, 309 S. Main Street, Elmira NY 14904 at 12:00 noon. In lieu of flowers, donations may be made in memory of Audrey and grandson Dana Carr to the Shepherd Center for Spinal Cord Injury and Rehabilitation, 2020 Peachtree Rd NW, Atlanta, GA 30309. www.shepherd.org