Memorial trees planted for:

Audrey Vizzard

Audrey Vizzard née Palm passed away in her Park Ridge, IL home on April 19, 2025 at the age of 96. Born and raised in Dunellen NJ to Walter and Evelyn Palm, Audrey graduated from New Jersey State College with degrees in Nursing and Education, continuing her higher education with a Master’s degree at Immaculate Heart College of Los Angeles and a Doctorate in Education from Columbia University, followed by postdoctoral work at Purdue University in Clinical Psychology. Audrey loved to read. In her own words, “From a young age, reading was my constant joy. School was something to be endured while my mind was elsewhere, often in the lives of the characters in the books I was reading. While my childhood peers ran and swam, reading allowed me to experience parallel lives, to become acquainted with romance and betrayal, to absorb the lessons of history while exploring the world, and to learn in spite of myself.” Audrey loved to write. In 1963, she submitted an essay “What Nursing Means to Me” to a Reader’s Digest competition, which was selected for publication and awarded a $500 prize. That began a prolific writing career resulting in over 100 publications including textbooks, trade books, and articles dealing with parental education, marriage and family life, and child development. Audrey was selfless. “From the first day of our marriage, Charles (Riker, deceased 1984) and I pledged to tithe, to give back a portion of what we earned to the poorest of the poor, to the homeless and hopeless, to the efforts of our church and charitable organizations to help people throughout the world to help themselves, to find hope and a better life.” Audrey was a practicing Catholic, and a woman of deep faith. “In my quest for self-improvement I failed as often as I succeeded. I struggled and stumbled toward becoming the woman I wanted to be. Truthfully, I never did get it completely right. My consolation was the dawning awareness that growing up is not an event, but a lifelong process.” Audrey was not afraid to live. As a mental health professional, she counseled many through grief and loss, standing side by side with those in need. She gave everyone the benefit of the doubt, always in favor of second chances. As a mentor, she offered sage guidance to those following in her footsteps. Audrey was not afraid to love. “In my journey, I had the help of many mentors and models, in particular two wise, patient and loving husbands. I took delight in the friendship of women: my beloved sister, daughters, granddaughters and friends with whom I shared trust and laughter, moments of triumph, hours of grieving.” Audrey was generous. After the death of her bonus husband Joseph Vizzard in 2005, Audrey established the ARVD Foundation to help those in need. Audrey was preceded in death by her sister Evelyn ‘Lyn’ Blum. She is survived by her children Gregory (Janis) Riker and Susan (Steve) Dolan and her four grandchildren Korey, Lauren, Evelyn, and Joe. She was blessed later in life with bonus children Therese, Joseph and Gabriel Vizzard, Michele Wozniak, Renee Worthington and 12 grandchildren. In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to the ARVD Foundation to carry on Audrey’s life-long passion of helping others find hope and a better life. Please mail donations to Alliance Global Partners Attn: Charlie Garrido/ARVD, 200 W Jackson Boulevard, Suite 2850, Chicago, IL 60606. Visitation Wednesday, April 30, 2025 from 8:30 a.m. until 9:30 a.m. at Ryan-Parke Funeral Home, 120 S Northwest Highway, Park Ridge, IL 60068. Funeral Mass Wednesday, April 30, 2025, 10:00 a.m at Saint Paul of the Cross Catholic Church, 320 S Washington Street, Park Ridge, IL 60068. Interment will take place privately at Saint Boniface Cemetery, Lafayette, IN at a later date. Funeral information please call (847) 823-1171 or visit ryan-parke.com

May 22, 1928 - April 19, 2025

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Audrey Vizzard

22 Trees have been planted in memory of Audrey Vizzard.

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Memorial Trees

Anonymous

May 01, 2025

The planting of 10 memorial trees in the honor of Audrey Vizzard has been arranged by Anonymous. Plant a tree

God bless!
Love, Kari & Bill in Arizona

Anonymous

April 25, 2025

The planting of 1 memorial tree in the honor of Audrey Vizzard has been arranged by Anonymous. Plant a tree

Tricia C.

April 24, 2025

The planting of 1 memorial tree in the honor of Audrey Vizzard has been arranged by Tricia C.. Plant a tree

My favorite memory is lunch with Audrey and Susan and a fabulous conversation with that mother-daughter duo! Gracious, charming, intelligent, and so interested in others--Audrey lives in our hearts.

Pb

April 22, 2025

The planting of 1 memorial tree in the honor of Audrey Vizzard has been arranged by Pb. Plant a tree

Mama Audrey you are one of the big part and the blessings that came into me and my whole family.i will never forget all the help you shared with me and i know from my heart how a good person you are

Joseph Dolan

April 22, 2025

The planting of 1 memorial tree in the honor of Audrey Vizzard has been arranged by Joseph Dolan. Plant a tree

We love you Grandma Audrey, we are all better having known you and all your wisdom! We are especially grateful Gray and Hayes got to meet you and learn to know who you were!

Anonymous

April 22, 2025

The planting of 1 memorial tree in the honor of Audrey Vizzard has been arranged by Anonymous. Plant a tree

Anonymous

April 21, 2025

The planting of 1 memorial tree in the honor of Audrey Vizzard has been arranged by Anonymous. Plant a tree

Anonymous

April 21, 2025

The planting of 1 memorial tree in the honor of Audrey Vizzard has been arranged by Anonymous. Plant a tree

Anonymous

April 21, 2025

The planting of 1 memorial tree in the honor of Audrey Vizzard has been arranged by Anonymous. Plant a tree

Anonymous

April 21, 2025

The planting of 1 memorial tree in the honor of Audrey Vizzard has been arranged by Anonymous. Plant a tree

Ann Aubrey Hanson

April 21, 2025

The planting of 1 memorial tree in the honor of Audrey Vizzard has been arranged by Ann Aubrey Hanson. Plant a tree

In memory of your loving mother, Susan. May she rest in peace and may others rest in the shade of her tree. Peace, Ann and Tom

Anonymous

April 21, 2025

The planting of 1 memorial tree in the honor of Audrey Vizzard has been arranged by Anonymous. Plant a tree

The staff at Ryan-Parke Funeral Home & Cremation Services

April 21, 2025

The planting of 1 memorial tree in the honor of Audrey Vizzard has been arranged by The staff at Ryan-Parke Funeral Home & Cremation Services. Plant a tree

We plant this tree as a living memorial to Audrey. We are deeply sorry for your loss.