Audrey Smith Ifft

 Audrey Smith Ifft

Age 85, of Fox Chapel, passed peacefully on July 30, at her home.   Raised in Squirrel Hill by Thomas Patrick Smith and Helen Coke Smith she was surrounded by love throughout her days especially when her beloved brother Thomas Smith came along.  They were life long friends and loved Pirate Baseball.  Audrey attended Mount Mercy High School (where she was considered quite an athlete) and received a full scholarship to Carnegie Tech (predecessor to Carnegie Mellon University) where she met the love of her life, her husband of 57 years, Edward C. Ifft, Jr, when he was visiting the Carnegie Tech campus from the University of Pittsburgh.  Not only did they end up marrying, but she became a die-hard Pitt fan for the rest of her life.  Audrey raised five children who are absolutely broken hearted at her loss - Heidi, Kristi (Tim Wells), Dana (Patrick Kelly), Eddie (Lauren), and John (Jayna).  She was an outstanding Realtor in Fox Chapel working for Howard Hanna for more than thirty years and developing the nickname “Audrey Real Estate” among her friends.  Her clients always remarked about Audrey’s trustworthiness and how she really strived to find them the perfect home.   But her absolutely favorite part of life was being with her family.  She adored her husband and five children, spouses and eight grandchildren (Meredith Kelly, Chloe Wells, Austin Kelly, William Kelly, Izzy Ifft, Margot Ifft, Elsie Ifft, and Eddie “Cruz” Ifft IV).  The quintessential mother, she took care of everyone around her, all of her family, her friends, all of her childrens’ friends.  If you knew her, she probably took care of you.  Audrey lit up a room with her warm smile and had a wonderful way of making others know they were important to her.  Her quick witted sense of humor kept you on your toes.  She loved her Irish heritage, all animals, especially Jack Russell Terriers, Frank Sinatra music, hosting holiday dinners, sitting at the shore at Avalon and Stone Harbor, learning new languages to travel the world, dinner at the Pittsburgh Field Club, the Kentucky Derby, golfing and watching her children and grandchildren playing sports. She was well-known as a true grammarian and Jeopardy aficionado.  Audrey was a charming and extraordinarily loving woman with an infectious laugh (that will long be remembered) and a joyful approach to life.  Godfearing and spiritual at her core, she lived by the motto “God helps those who help themselves”.  She leaves behind countless adoring cousins, nieces, nephews and friends of all ages and her dear sister-in-law Elizabeth Jacob. Friends will be received at John A. Freyvogel Sons, Inc. (freyvogelfuneralhome.com) 4900 Centre Avenue at Devonshire Street on Wednesday August 4, 2021 from 6-8PM and Thursday August 5, 2021 from 2-4 and 6-8PM. Funeral Friday August 6, 2021, Mass of Christian Burial, Christ the King Parish, St. Joseph Church (Dorseyville Road) at 10:00AM. (Everyone please gather at church.) In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to IPF Research, Dorothy P. and Richard P. Simmons Center Interstitial Lung Disease at UPMC.

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