Aurena P. Gillespie

In Celebration of Aurena P. Gillespie Aurena Gillespie, 87, went home to be with the Lord on December 1, 2023. She was born on the family farm in Fauquier County to Ambrose and Kathleen Payne on April 3, 1936. She was married to Clyde, a career Marine, in 1955. They began their lives together at MCAS Cherry Point, NC where they started their family. After a brief tour in Norway, they moved to Woodbridge, VA, where sons Dan, David and Duane grew up. They enjoyed a close-knit neighborhood there, having stayed in touch with friends and neighbors all these years. Aurena, known as “Rhee” to those close to her, worked briefly at the US Mint and then later, at a local Church Daycare center. She was most of all a Military wife, Mom and homemaker. She and Clyde enjoyed traveling. She loved being at the beach, which was her ‘happy place’. They built a home on Sanders Lane in Catharpin. In 1988, they moved to Manassas where they resided until Clyde’s death in 2013. There are wonderful memories of many Sunday afternoons spent in Annandale where Rhee’s mother lived and the whole family would gather for fun and food. Rhee and Clyde were members of the Manassas Baptist Church. After Clyde’s passing, Rhee spent her final 10 years in Haymarket in the apartment built for her by sons Dan, David, and brothers Mike and Andy, in the lower level of Dan and Kirk’s home. The Lord answered our prayers by allowing her homecoming to be a peaceful transition. And we rejoice knowing she is spending her Christmas with Jesus. She is proceeded in death by her husband Clyde; her brothers Ackley, Frank, and Andy; her sisters Pauline, Maxine, Marge and Judy. She is survived by sons Dan (Kirk), David (Sonja), Duane (Michelle), brother Mike Hodgson and sisters in law Shirley Beck and Judy Payne. She is also survived by 6 grandchildren and 8 great-grandchildren. On Saturday, December 9, 2023, there will be a visitation at 11:00 am followed by a celebration of her life at 12:00 pm. There will be a time of fellowship following the service, all at Pierce Funeral Home, 9609 Center St., Manassas, VA 20110. In lieu of flowers, donations can be made to St. Jude’s Hospital. “For we know that if the tent that is our earthly home is destroyed, we have a building from God, a house not made with hands, eternal in the heavens.” 2 Cor. 5:1

Aurena P. Gillespie

April 3, 1936 - December 1, 2023