Audrey (Soeker) Behrens

December 3, 1928 - December 13, 2025

The wonderful Audrey Behrens left us on December 13, 2025. She was 97 beautiful, gracious, and funny years old. She was the love of her husband, Dr. Donald Behrens, and the light in the lives of her six children: Barbara, Gary, [Carolyn], Julie, Mark, and Chris.

Audrey was born on December 3, 1928 to Lawrence and Ella (née Kuhlmann) Soeker, joining her sister Lois. She graduated from Beaumont High School and Washington University, with a B.A in business (often the only woman in many of her business classes). She met her husband Donald Behrens in high school and they married after he received his medical degree. After a brief stint in Caribou, Maine per Donald's Air Force assignment, they settled in St. Louis and raised 6 kids, 3 dogs, 1 cat, and sometimes a rooster.

Audrey was an engaged and loving mother. She encouraged (and drove!) her kids in their many activities and had an affectionate, sarcastic sense of humor that has stuck with them all, generally for the better. When her children teased her, Audrey would often threaten to cut them out of the will, followed by an acknowledgment that there wouldn't be much left in the will anyway if she could help it. She listened, asked questions, and was genuinely interested in others – a value that many of us didn't appreciate until we were grown, but which has endeared her to so many.

Audrey and Don played a lot of golf, and Audrey took up tennis in later years. Her garden was beautiful in spite of the rabbits. She was a hands-on and present grandma, adored by both her grandchildren and her grand-dogs.

Mom was predeceased by her husband, Donald Behrens, MD, their daughter Carolyn, and her sister Lois Albrecht (Robert). Audrey is in heaven now where she is hugging Carolyn and saying I love you, at last.

She is survived by her children Barbara, Gary (Evelyne), Julie (August), Mark (Betsey), and Chris (Catherine); her grandchildren Joe, Erica, Madelaine, Stephanie, Andrew, Sophie, Seviana, and Titus.

Audrey's children wish to thank the nurses and staff at Aberdeen Heights for their cheerful and personal care to their mom, and to her conscientious and loving caregiver of many years, Atsede (Hannah) Ayau.

For her memorial service, we will share our memories of her love, humor, and wit at the Aberdeen Heights in Kirkwood (575 Couch Ave.) on Monday, December 29, 2025 at 4:30pm.

During her life, Audrey was a regular volunteer at local food pantries, and she benefitted greatly from the warmth and care of the staff at the Aberdeen in her final years. If you wish to make a donation in Audrey's honor, please give to Operation Food Search , a hunger relief nonprofit serving the St. Louis area, or to the Aberdeen Heights Senior Living community, particularly the Employee Scholarship Fund .