Life Story for
Aubrey E. Pace
Aubrey E. Pace, 81, of Ketchum, ID, passed away at her home on July 10, 2014. Aubrey began her life being born on March 6, 1933, in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, in the back seat of the family car. Her dad drove to the wrong hospital and she ended up being delivered by nuns in the parking lot. This was just the beginning of the many adventures Aubrey experienced in her 81 years of life.
Aubrey grew up in Haverford, PA and graduated from Agnes Irwin School. She was a popular debutante and was chosen as the queen of the Brigade Cotillion in Philadelphia. Aubrey spent two years as an airline stewardess for American Airlines, where she met her first husband, John F. Leslie. They married and raised their two children, Keith and Jennifer, in Bellevue, Washington. After 19 years of marriage, they divorced and Aubrey moved to Ketchum, Idaho where she fell in love with the natural beauty and recreational activities found here. After several years of being single, she met Denny Pace and after a 3 month whirlwind romance they were married. Aubrey and Denny loved to travel and spent their lives together exploring the world. That marriage led to 27 happy years until Denny passed away on March 3, 2013.
Aubrey was a lifetime member of the Episcopal church. She found great pleasure serving on Altar Guild. Aubrey also enjoyed volunteering at St. Luke’s Hospital and being involved with American Legion Post 115, serving 8 years as the president of the American Legion Auxiliary for them.
Aubrey found great strength in her faith in God and she loved her fellow parishioners at St. Thomas Episcopal as well as the many friends she made throughout the valley in her nearly 40 years of residence here. Aubrey was independent to the end, insisting on no help from friends or family. However she was deeply touched to know how many people cared about her. She lived a full life of love and adventure. Aubrey was able to complete her bucket list in May when she traveled to Germany and Holland to see the bulbs in bloom.
In summarizing her life, Aubrey wrote, “I suppose I have come full circle. I’ve had a wonderful life and have been blessed with so much. I’m not perfect and wish I could do some things differently. But I suppose that is life.”
Aubrey was preceded in death by her loving husband Denny Pace; her parents Lewis and Louise Esler; and her brothers Lewis Esler and Charles Esler. She is survived by her son Keith Leslie and his children John and Nick of Enumclaw, WA; her daughter Jennifer Craig, son-in-law Paul and their children, John, Daniel and Brian of Bellevue, WA; step-daughter Patti Anderson, her husband Dean and their children Tawny and Lanette of California; step-daughter Pam Rayborn, her husband Steve and their children Angie and Stacy of Hailey, ID; step-son John Pace, his wife Valdi and their daughter Brooke of Hailey, ID; and 6 step great-grandchildren.