It is with heavy hearts that we announce the passing of Marcelle June Audia, who with her husband by her side left us peacefully, at the age of eighty-one.

Born June 8, 1943, in Regina, Saskatchewan, Marcelle was the beloved daughter of Malcolm and Rose McDonald. She grew up alongside her two sisters, Jeanette and Shirley, and her three brothers, Clifford, Mervin, and Patrick. The family moved several times during her youth, including a brief time in Fernie, but it wasn’t until her teenage years that Fernie truly became significant in her life.

At the age of fifteen, while living in Calgary, Marcelle joined a friend on a road trip back to Fernie, where they attended a house party—and fate stepped in. It was there that she met Bernard Audia. A few phone calls and letters later, they were engaged within a year.

Marcelle moved back to Fernie after graduation and lived with her future in-laws. On November 3, 1962, she married John Bernard Audia. Together, they shared nearly 63 years of love, partnership, and family.

Marcelle was mother to her two daughters, Tracey Kelly (Brock) and Allison Polacik (Terry), and a proud grandmother to: Jordan Audia (Gabriela), Solange Chappelle (Dan), Zoe Browne (Luke), McKelvey Kelly (Logan), and Taryn Salanski (Owen). Her heart was even fuller with the arrival of her great-grandchildren: Lucia, Maverick, Hendrix, and Swayze.

A trailblazer at heart, Marcelle was fearless in her travels and endlessly curious about the world. Beginning in the 1970s, she ventured to distant places few traveled to at the time.

She was known in Fernie for her impeccable taste and elegance—widely admired as one of the town’s most stylish and graceful women. Her wardrobe and her beautifully curated home reflected her exceptional eye for design and detail.

Marcelle was passionate about quilting, especially alongside her dear friend Barb (Nohels) Podrasky, and found peace and happiness in the Flathead with Bernard and their close circle of friends. Her entrepreneurial spirit shone brightly in the late 1970s and early 1980s when she owned and operated two successful Main Street clothing boutiques: Orphan Annie’s and Jenny B. Good.

Though she faced many years of health challenges, Marcelle met each one with strength, grace, and resilience. She will be remembered as a courageous, elegant, and inspiring woman.

Marcelle was predeceased by her parents, her sister Jeanette, and her beloved in-laws, Bessie and Johnny Audia, with whom she shared a deep and cherished bond.

A special thank you to Dr Tessler, Alanna Corrigan, and the wonderful and amazing staff of Rocky Mountain Village for their loving and compassionate care.

Marcelle will be deeply missed and forever loved.