GANDER, N.L. — Audrey Helen Violet Ruby Strong, a nurse whose long career took her to remote communities across Newfoundland and later to Gander Airport, died peacefully on July 16, 2026, at James Peyton Memorial Hospital. She was 99.
A life of service across Newfoundland and Labrador
Born on Feb. 13, 1927, Strong trained as a registered nurse at the Grace Hospital. Early in her career she was posted to Trinity North, where she provided essential medical care in communities such as Hearts Content and Heart’s Delight. In an era when health services were scarce and travel could be by sleigh or horse-and-cart, she handled a wide range of responsibilities — from delivering babies to performing dental extractions — and became the primary source of medical help for many isolated families.
She later worked as a nurse at Gander Airport Customs during the years when the town was a major hub for transatlantic travel. The post brought encounters with a wide variety of travellers, and she continued to provide obstetrical and private nursing care to mothers in the region.
Family and community ties
Strong and her husband, Stephen, moved around the province following his teaching appointments before settling in Gander in 1963. She was predeceased by Stephen and by six siblings.
| Survived by | Relationship |
|---|---|
| Warren (Claris) | Son |
| Jane (Ed) | Daughter |
| Stephen (Judith), Kimberly (Alan), Grant, Rocky (Katherine) | Grandchildren |
| Michael, Lana, Thomas, Alice, Isabelle | Great-grandchildren |
Her faith was central to her life. In later years she was devoted to prayer for family and the region’s youth and took an active interest in the new Crossroads Academy in Gander, offering encouragement and support to its students and staff.
- Age at death: 99
- Professional background: Registered nurse, Grace Hospital graduate; postings in Trinity North and at Gander Airport Customs
- Settled in Gander: 1963
Family will receive visitors at Stacey’s Funeral Home in Gander on Friday, July 17 from 7 p.m. to 9 p.m. A funeral service is scheduled for Saturday, July 18 at 2 p.m. at Evangel Pentecostal Church.
Her life — marked by travel across the island by traditional means, sustained service in rural clinics, and care for mothers and children — is remembered by family and the community she served for decades.
Arrangements are being handled locally in Gander; friends and former patients who wish to pay respects are asked to consult the funeral home for any updates.
