Audrey M. (Bordner) Wise

Audrey M. Wise, 94, formerly of Pottsville, passed away Thursday at Rosewood Rehabilitation and Nursing Center, Schuylkill Haven.

Born in Sunbury, PA on November 1, 1922, she was the daughter of the late J. Allan and Grace Hoy Bordner; and beloved stepdaughter of the late Howard W. Stager.

Raised in Schuylkill Haven, she was a 1940 graduate of Schuylkill Haven High School.

Audrey was a member of United Presbyterian Church, Pottsville and belonged to the Nelson Eddy Appreciation Society.

She lived in the Necho Allen Apartments for 20 years and could often be seen in her “uniform” of a white blouse and black skirt visiting the beauty shop, library, Coney Island, Rite Aid, and the former Towne Drug Luncheonette.

As a young girl she studied piano and voice and would often take the train to Philadelphia for Nelson Eddy concerts, even getting his autograph.

Although she never attended college, her love of reading, sharp memory and amazing intelligence made her a very interesting conversationalist.  In her lighthearted moods she did the Mummer’s Strut on New Year’s Day, imitated Mick Jagger, and sang along with the Beatles even after the teenagers left home.

Audrey had an encyclopedic memory for movies, movie stars, and people in the news.  World War II movies and movies starring Nelson Eddy were her favorite.

An ardent Anglophile, she fulfilled her lifelong dream of visiting wartime pen pals in England and Wales twice.

She was a good baker and usually produced an impressive assortment of Christmas cookies. 

Her legacy will live on through her daughters, Janis Wise, wife of Robin Swartz, Schuylkill Haven and Elizabeth Wise Monahan, Rhode Island; grandchildren, Aretha Nelson, Schuylkill Haven, and Iris Staff, Pottsville; great-grandchildren,  Allura McCuller and Zakai Staff, Pottsville.

Funeral Services will be held 10:30AM Tuesday at Schlitzer Allen Pugh Funeral Home, 515 W. Market St., Pottsville, Rev. Mark D. Dewald, officiating.  Family and friends may call Tuesday morning at the funeral home from 9AM until the time of the service. Interment will be held in Schuylkill Haven Historic Union Cemetery.

Please visit SchlitzerAllenPugh.com to leave a condolence for the Wise family.  The family would prefer donations be made in Audrey’s memory to one of her favorite places, the Pottsville Free Public Library, 215 West Market Street, Pottsville, PA 17901.  

The family wishes to thank Dr. Herbert Rubright, the nurses and staff of Rosewood Rehabilitation and Nursing Center, the staff of the former Waterbridge at Pine Grove, and Compassus Hospice for their dedicated, professional and compassionate care during her later years.

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