Obituaries
Audrey Sparks
October 13, 2021
Audrey M Sparks, age 81, of Norwalk, Ohio passed away peacefully at home on Wednesday, October 13, 2021 after battling lung cancer.
She was born on December 2, 1939, in Wilkinsburg, Pennsylvania to the late John and Elizabeth (Kovalsky) Vanderaar and lived in the Norwalk area most of her life. Audrey graduated from St. Paul High School in 1957, where she was an honor student and a cheerleader. She furthered her education at Bowling Green State University. She was a member of St. Paul Catholic Church. Audrey enjoyed traveling to almost all 50 states in the United States, watching her favorite sport, football, especially THE Ohio State Buckeyes, and spending quality time with her husband of 61 years, children, grandchildren, great-grandchildren, and friends. Audrey was previously a “heavenly duster” at St. Paul Catholic Church, as well as a worker at their funeral luncheons. She planned semi-annual lunches for her classmates as she was designated the “sunshine committee of one”.
Audrey is survived by her husband Howard “Tom” Sparks, whom she married on September 17, 1960; children Denise (Michael) Behary of West Salem, Ohio and Michael of Bucyrus, Ohio. Audrey is also survived by her grandchildren Daniel (Gilicove) Woods of Akron, Ohio; Andrew Woods of Oakland, California; Matthew Woods of Medina, Ohio; Kristen Woods (fiance Christian Baughman) of Seville, Ohio; Caitlyn Sparks of Bucyrus, Ohio; Amanda (Boston) Ballmer of Swartz Creek, Michigan; Nathan Sparks of Columbus, Ohio; and step-grandson Michael Behary of Medina, Ohio. Her great-grandchildren include Finnegan Woods of Akron, Ohio and Michael Joseph (M.J.) Behary of Medina, Ohio. Audrey is also survived by her brother John (Patricia) Vanderaar of Berea, Ohio; brother-in-law Ronald (Patricia) Sparks of Monroeville, Ohio; sister-in-law Elaine Sparks of Plain City, Ohio; many nieces and nephews; and special friends Gloria Scagnetti, the David Bleile family, the Todd Moore family, and the rest of the Stoll family.
Besides her parents and in-laws, Dr. Howard and Mary Sparks, Audrey was preceded in death by her brother-in-law F. Edward Sparks, great nephew Jason Sparks, and Donna Moore, her best friend of 50 years.
There will be no viewing; however, the Mass of Christian Burial will be celebrated at St. Paul Catholic Church, 91 E. Main St., Norwalk on Thursday, November 4, 2021 at 11:00 a.m. Burial will be immediately after Mass at Riverside Cemetery in Monroeville. A celebration of life luncheon will be held after burial at the St. Paul Gathering Space. The Mass will be live-streamed at www.stpaulchurch.org . At Audrey’s request, please wear something “sparkly” to her services and celebration of life. Memorial contributions may be made to Stein Hospice, the Norwalk Area Food Bank, St. Paul Alumni Association, or Norwalk Catholic School.
Audrey’s family would like to thank Stein Hospice for their excellent care, as well as her Cleveland Clinic doctors Dr. Gregory Videtic and Dr. Peter Mazzone.
Audrey Sparks
10/13/2021
Audrey M Sparks, age 81, of Norwalk, Ohio passed away peacefully at home on Wednesday, October 13, 2021 after battling lung cancer.
She was born on December 2, 1939, in Wilkinsburg, Pennsylvania to the late John and Elizabeth (Kovalsky) Vanderaar and lived in the Norwalk area most of her life. Audrey graduated from St. Paul High School in 1957, where she was an honor student and a cheerleader. She furthered her education at Bowling Green State University. She was a member of St. Paul Catholic Church. Audrey enjoyed traveling to almost all 50 states in the United States, watching her favorite sport, football, especially THE Ohio State Buckeyes, and spending quality time with her husband of 61 years, children, grandchildren, great-grandchildren, and friends. Audrey was previously a “heavenly duster” at St. Paul Catholic Church, as well as a worker at their funeral luncheons. She planned semi-annual lunches for her classmates as she was designated the “sunshine committee of one”.
Audrey is survived by her husband Howard “Tom” Sparks, whom she married on September 17, 1960; children Denise (Michael) Behary of West Salem, Ohio and Michael of Bucyrus, Ohio. Audrey is also survived by her grandchildren Daniel (Gilicove) Woods of Akron, Ohio; Andrew Woods of Oakland, California; Matthew Woods of Medina, Ohio; Kristen Woods (fiance Christian Baughman) of Seville, Ohio; Caitlyn Sparks of Bucyrus, Ohio; Amanda (Boston) Ballmer of Swartz Creek, Michigan; Nathan Sparks of Columbus, Ohio; and step-grandson Michael Behary of Medina, Ohio. Her great-grandchildren include Finnegan Woods of Akron, Ohio and Michael Joseph (M.J.) Behary of Medina, Ohio. Audrey is also survived by her brother John (Patricia) Vanderaar of Berea, Ohio; brother-in-law Ronald (Patricia) Sparks of Monroeville, Ohio; sister-in-law Elaine Sparks of Plain City, Ohio; many nieces and nephews; and special friends Gloria Scagnetti, the David Bleile family, the Todd Moore family, and the rest of the Stoll family.
Besides her parents and in-laws, Dr. Howard and Mary Sparks, Audrey was preceded in death by her brother-in-law F. Edward Sparks, great nephew Jason Sparks, and Donna Moore, her best friend of 50 years.
There will be no viewing; however, the Mass of Christian Burial will be celebrated at St. Paul Catholic Church, 91 E. Main St., Norwalk on Thursday, November 4, 2021 at 11:00 a.m. Burial will be immediately after Mass at Riverside Cemetery in Monroeville. A celebration of life luncheon will be held after burial at the St. Paul Gathering Space. The Mass will be live-streamed at www.stpaulchurch.org . At Audrey’s request, please wear something “sparkly” to her services and celebration of life. Memorial contributions may be made to Stein Hospice, the Norwalk Area Food Bank, St. Paul Alumni Association, or Norwalk Catholic School.
Audrey’s family would like to thank Stein Hospice for their excellent care, as well as her Cleveland Clinic doctors Dr. Gregory Videtic and Dr. Peter Mazzone.