Audrey Mezyk

Audrey Dianne Mezyk, age 74, of Swansea, IL, born on December 25, 1947, in E. St. Louis, IL, died  on Saturday, July 23, 2022, at her residence.

Audrey was a 1966 graduate of Dupo High School, Dupo, IL. She was a  bank clerk having worked at National Stock Yards Bank, Commercial Union Bank, Bank of St. Louis and FCB Banks (Retired on January 3, 2017). Audrey and her husband Joe worked at the same bank but did not associate until meeting at the Granary in Edwardsville the week before Thanksgiving 1972. It was a very popular night club at the time and many of our mutual friends and coworkers frequented it. After our first dance we were a couple from then on. We married two years later. As Audrey was previously married for a brief time, and my mother passed away in mid-1972 with my father still mourning somewhat, a traditional wedding was not considered.  We secured an apartment in Belleville and “eloped”. We were married at the St. Clair County Courthouse on a Saturday morning, between arraignments of some shady looking characters who kept staring at us as to why were there waiting for the same judge. Our married life began that day. My entire family always loved Audrey and made her feel so welcome. No questions if she were still alive my mother would have approved of her big time.  She always wanted a daughter, and Audrey would have been a perfect daughter-in-law for her.

She loved her family, friends, hummingbirds, dogs, musical, concerts, dining out and travel. But first and foremost, Audrey loved to spend time with her family. She very much enjoyed our trips to Florida to visit Kimberly and her family, especially their dogs. And our family get togethers here as well. Audrey also enjoyed the time she spent going to movies, the Muny Opera, the Fox Theater, and shopping with her special longtime friend Roberta. And of course, every outing included a lunch or dinner which they looked forward to.  She also like to read novels, James Patterson and May Higgins Clark being her favorites. She enjoyed chatting with all her friends on Facebook and Facetime.  Above all Audrey was enjoying her retirement and we always seemed to have something going on.   She loved hummingbirds and enjoyed watching them from our kitchen, the group attracted to the feeder and plants on our patio. Actually, she loved watching all kinds of animals.

She was preceded in death by her parents; George O. and Muriel, nee Lockhart Hayes; her brother, Gary Hayes; and her dear pet, Mitzi.

Audrey is survived  by her husband of 48 years, Joseph J. Mezyk, Jr; her daughters, Jennifer (Daniel) Saeger, of Belleville, IL and Kimberly (Cory) Terrell of Freeport, FL; grandchildren, Cole A. Mezyk of Belleville, IL and Lillian Saeger of Belleville, IL; her step grandchildren, Isabelle, Gabrielle and Arielle Terrell; her sister, Mary (James) Jenkins of Waterloo, IL; her closest friend, Roberta Tripp, and several nieces and nephews.

Memorials are preferred to your favorite animal shelter or Caritas Family Solutions, Belleville, IL.

Condolences may be expressed online to the family at www.kasslyfuneral.com.

Visitation will be held on Wednesday, July 27, 2022, from 9:00 AM till 11:00 AM. at Kassly Mortuary, Ltd., Fairview Heights, IL.

Funeral Service on Wednesday, July 27, 2022 at 11:00 AM at Kassly Mortuary Chapel. Interment will be in Mt. Carmel Cemetery, Belleville, IL.

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