Audrey May Cliff

Audrey M. Cliff, 87, of Dubuque, Iowa, formerly of Hanover, Illinois, passed away peacefully in her sleep April 12, 2015. A Memorial Service will be held on Saturday, April 25, 2015 at the Leonard Funeral Home, 2595 Rockdale Road in Dubuque. Friends may call from 12:00 to 2:00, with the service starting at 2:00 p.m.

Audrey was born August 26, 1927 in Derinda Township in Jo Daviess County, Illinois, the daughter of Lida and Genoa Gamble. She married Harland Cliff on October 15, 1948, they were married for almost 55 years before his passing in 2003.

During her early years, Audrey attended the Knapp County School and Center Township School, country schools in Sioux County, Iowa. She attended one semester of high school at Ireton High School in Ireton, Iowa before joining and graduating with the class of 1945 at Hanover High School.

Before marriage, Audrey worked for the Railroad Retirement Board in Chicago and the Savanna Ordinance Depot. She worked a variety of jobs throughout the years and although Audrey enjoyed them, she considered caring for her home and family her true calling.  She excelled at frying eggplant, making a mouthwatering caramel corn, and making sure that her family always knew that they were her top priority. Audrey enjoyed cross-stitch, creating beautiful pictures and gifts for her family. She also enjoyed reading and solving crossword puzzles. Her handmade dolls are the stuff of legend, but nothing could top her Scrabble game and because of her, the love of the game has continued through the generations in her family.

Audrey made friends wherever she lived or traveled. Her adventures included trips with Harland to Germany, France, Luxembourg, Canada, and Mexico, as well as visiting each of the 50 states. They even lived a spell as snowbirds in Arizona.

She will be dearly missed by her children: Barry Cliff and wife Rose of Dubuque, Iowa, and children Geoff, Tara and Abby; Bruce Cliff and wife Jeri of The Colony, Texas; Brenda Serra and husband Jean-Michel of Maysville, Iowa and daughters, Jessica, Stephanie, and Ashley; and Babette Cliff of North East, Maryland; as well seven great-grandchildren and a multitude of family and friends.

She was preceded in death by her parents and sisters, Maxine Hottenstein and Shirley Plattenberger Smith, her son, Brian, and her husband, Harland.

In lieu of flowers, Audrey requested that donations be made in memory of her son, Brian, at http://tinyurl.com/Audrey-Memorial/ to help in the fight against Lou Gehrig’s disease. Family and friends will be participating in the Quad Cities Walk to Defeat ALS in August.

Online condolences may be left at http://www.leonardfuneralhome.com/

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