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Hudson- Adriana "Audrey" Kool, 79, died Wednesday, June 27, 2012, at the Heritage Manor in Normal, Illinois, following a valiant struggle with cancer.

Born September 9, 1932, in Voorschoten, Holland, Audrey was the eighth of nine children born to Josef Frederick Nicolaas and Maria van Os (Overkleeft). She was the only member of her immediate family to emigrate from Holland, first to Canada in 1954 and then to the United States in 1958, newly married to Abraham "Bram" Kool. Ultimately they settled in the California Bay Area where she and Bram raised three children, Sylvia Grace (Phillips), Antonie Frederick, and Walter Alexander. Through the years she was active in the local hospital's women's auxiliary and various bridge clubs, worked at the local bakery, and travelled extensively with Bram. She embraced the California life style while at the same time kept close ties with her family in Holland whom she visited on a regular basis. After Bram's death in 2002, Audrey met Bob Zimmerman and subsequently moved to Hudson, Illinois, where she spent seven happy years with him, his loving family and friends, and the welcoming community of Hudson United Methodist Church, where she became a member.

Audrey leaves her daughter Sylvia, of Vancouver, Canada, her son Fred and his wife, Marie, of Aptos, California, and her son Walter and his wife, Denise, of Saratoga, California. She also leaves her grandsons, Fred's sons, Daryle Antonie and Travis Brandon, of Aptos, California. In Holland she leaves her sisters, Joop van Os and Willy Rodenburg, her brothers-in-law, Wim Rodenburg and Arie Kool, and her sisters-in-law, To van Os, Neel van Os, and Ina Kool. In Australia she leaves her brother-in-law, Cor Kool and his wife Daphne. She will be missed by her many nieces and nephews in Europe and Australia, especially Ria, Miranda, and Margreet. In Illinois she leaves her companion, Bob Zimmerman and his daughters, Cindy (Jim Pepper) and Litta (Steve Dennis), and their children and grandchildren. Audrey was predeceased by her husband of 48 years, Bram Kool, her brothers, Jan van Os and Frits van Os, her sisters, Jannie Mechelse, Riet van de Plas, Toos van Os, and Greertje van Os, her brothers-in-law, Kees Mechelse, Klaas van de Plas, and Anton Kool, and sister-in-law, Corrie van Dijk.

Visitation will be held at the Hudson United Methodist Church at 9:00 am on Friday, June 29, 2012, followed by the funeral service at 11:00 am. The burial will follow a few days later at 11:00 am on Thursday, July 5, 2012 at Madronia Cemetery in Saratoga, California. Ruestman-Harris Funeral Home in El Paso is handling arrangements.

In lieu of flowers memorial donations may be given to the Hudson United Methodist Church. Online condolences may be sent to the family at ruestmanharrisfuneralhome.com.