AUDREY OSWALD

With heavy hearts we announce that Audrey Oswald, of Batavia, passed away peacefully Wednesday, October 12, 2022.

She was born in Chicago, IL, on June 17, 1942, to proud parents, John and Thelma (Van Fossen) Leonard. Audrey grew up in Chicago and attended local schools to 8^th grade, graduating from Wheaton Central High School with the class of 1960.

Audrey and her girlfriends were having pizza in downtown Wheaton, and Erik Oswald and his friends happened to come along and take interest in both. A week later, Erik gave her a ride home and a week after that Erik picked her up after work and the rest was history. They walked down the aisle on March 24, 1962, at the Faith Lutheran Church in Glen Ellyn, IL. They began their new life together in Elgin for a time before moving to Wheaton for year before building a house in Winfield and spent the next 30 years making it a home to thousands of memories and where they raised their children. For the last 28 years, Elburn became their home.

Audrey and Erik’s most precious moment was when they adopted their daughter Jennifer, and son, Jim. They became the highlight of their lives. The family loved to take road trips, but it was after Erik retired that he and Audrey would take multiple trips with both family and friends to destinations such as up the Pacific Coast, Oregon Trail, with side trips to the Grand Canyon and trips to Cave Creek, AZ, to see their son. They watched the miles fly by as they rode down Route 66. Michigan brought memories of the Grand Hotel and once they followed the Mississippi river all the way to New Orleans. Other favorite places included jaunts to San Francisco, San Diego, Cancun, and the UK, but it was the time spent with her family that meant the most. For the last many years, Audrey would make over 50 yule logs for family and friends. Her artistic side also was shown through myriads of sketches and art classes, but her passion was not just antiques, but it was the search for the perfect find that made it meaningful. Treasure hunting with friends were one of her favorite pastimes.

Audrey is survived by her husband, Erik Oswald; her son Jim (Shelly) Oswald and daughter, Jennifer Strayve; 6 grandchildren: Nicole, Nathaniel (Felicia), Amanda, Erik, Zach and Ryan; 2 great-grandchildren: Andelina and Lenora; several nieces, nephews and a community of friends.

Audrey is preceded in death by her parents, John and Thelma Leonard; her sister Joan Irvine and brothers, James and Thomas Leonard.

Visitation will be from 10-12, Saturday, October 29, 2022, at Conley Funeral Home, 116 W. Pierce St., Elburn, IL. A funeral service to celebrate her life will follow visitation at 12 p.m. Interment will follow at Blackberry Twp. Cemetery, Elburn.

In lieu of flowers, contributions may be made to the Northern Illinois Foodbank, at solvehungertoday.org,  and the Anderson Animal Shelter at ahconnects.org. Memories and tributes may be left on the Conley Funeral Home Facebook Page, or at www.conleycare.com.