Audrey Koch

Audrey Koch (aka "Gina Koch"), 88, was born on August 20, 1936, in Salford, United Kingdom, and passed away October 17, 2024, in Chatsworth, CA.  Her funeral will take place on November 9, 2024 at Forest Lawn Glendale at 12 pm (Little Church of the Flowers).  A wake will follow at Red Lion Tavern (23566 Glendale Blvd. Silverlake)  at 2:30 pm (this location was updated on Nov. 5th to reflect a new restaurant). 

Only three years old when the German bombing of Britain began during WWII, her formative years were full of chaos,  separation anxiety,  and fear as she was removed from her family and sent to live with people she did not know for five years (away from the city where the bombs were dropping).  She returned home to a mother and two sisters who were basically strangers, and to an abusive father. whose penchant for alcohol and philandering was only surpassed by his grossly abusive tendencies.  More than once Audrey was witness to her mother being severely beaten by her father.   This had an indelible impact on her for the remaining 85 years of her life, 

  Fiercely independent, loathe to relinquish control,  driven to succeed,  and a "take no prisoners" attitude toward life's interactions forever characterized her.  Enamored with the American soldiers who were stationed in Britain,  Audrey quickly focused on leaving home and coming to America to put all of the foregoing behind her. At 18 she moved to London and began attending nursing school.  It was here that she met some of her best friends, most of whom came from Ireland.  Due to their influence she converted to Catholicism and remained a staunch advocate and believer in the Catholic faith throughout her life.  At 21 Audrey (and some of her nurse friends) moved from London to Chicago and became an operating room nurse in the emergency room at one of the South Side's busiest hospitals. She spent three years in Chicago serving some of that cities poorest and neediest citizens with dignity, respect and care. 

Shortly thereafter,   Audrey, and a couple of her nurse friends, drove Route 66 across the country and moved to Los Angeles in 1960, where she resumed her career as an operating room nurse with St. Vincent's hospital.    In 1961 she met a handsome German immigrant named Lothar ("Fred") and soon became his wife.  In 1963 her daughter, Gabrielle, was born and in 1968 her son, Phillip, was born. Audrey worked as a nurse for another few years but eventually decided to dedicate herself to motherhood full time.  She never stopped being a nurse however.  Every kid in the neighborhood would come to her for medical advice and she volunteered at convalescent homes.   Additionally,  she spent much time providing comfort and medical  assistance to her dear friend Jannine, who suffered from a severe case of Multiple Scelorsis and was bed bound for the last years of her life.  

Audrey also spend 30 years as a "Cop's wife" and,  as only you who are in this fraternity know,  this is not an easy life.  The constant worry of "will he come home alive tonight?",  the overtime,  working nights,  undercover, etc...   She remained through it all. 

Audrey and Fred were great friends with two couples:  Freddy and Hilde and Hans and Christa.   Her and my Dad would spend many Friday nights playing poker with Hans and Christa, talking and laughing.   It was one of her great joys.  Many holidays of my childhood were spent with Freddy (who was my Dad's best friend from High School) and Hilde and their kids.   All were/are wonderful people.  If one can be judged by the company they keep then Audrey was truly blessed. These four people,  along with her best friend Jannine, were/are all amazingly kind,  generous and thoughtful human beings. 

After 30 plus years in Los Angeles,  Fred retired, so him and Audrey moved to Ranch Mirage where they spent the remaining 30 years  of their life, with my Dad passing away in 2019.   The last few years were a tremendous struggle with my mother suffering from the slow,  but progressive ravages of dementia,  made worse by her (understandable) denial of the situation.   As a personal witness to the emotional, mental and physical toll which dementia has on a person's family I encourage any of you in this situation to please get more help (there is never enough) and to take care of yourselves. 

In her later years Audrey often characterized herself as "Freds Wife" but her story consists of much more than that.  Like so many others,  she grew up in incredibly difficult circumstances,  but used education and immigration (to America) to form a better life.  And she did that,  holding a career as a nurse,  obtaining a bachelor's degree, having a 55 year plus marriage, and raising two amazing kids,  who in turn provided her with four (even more amazing) grandkids.  She could be difficult,  dogmatic,  and stubborn but she could also be incredibly generous with her time and money,  helping many, many people throughout the course of her life. Hopefully these are the memories which will sustain in the coming years.  

Audrey was preceded in death by her husband, Fred (Lothar), mother Ada and her two sisters Doreen and Mary.   She is survived by her daughter Gabrielle,  son Phillip, daughter in law, Veronica,  and grandchildren Kirstin, Daniel, Nicolas and Elisabeth.  Rest in Peace Mom. In lieu of flowers,  donations to "Guide Dogs for the Blind" or any Alzheimer's based charity would be greatly appreciated.