Winnifred (‘Win’) Napier
Winnifred M. Napier died suddenly on Tuesday, August 15 at her home in Ajijic at the age of 96.
Born in Saskatchewan, Canada in 1921, she qualified as a teacher in 1940. After a short teaching career, curtailed by World War II, she worked making munitions for the allied forces.
After the war she married Frederick A. McIntosh, and moved to Deep River, Ontario, where they had three children. In time this marriage ended, and in 1978 she married Ronald Napier.
Winnifred and Ron lived in Toronto for several years, and then moved to Vancouver, before locating to Ajijic in 2005.
Winnifred’s spiritual interests were lifelong, and she was a long-time member of SRF (Self-Realization Fellowship), an organization founded by Paramahansa Yogananda, which has branches all over the world. Recently, a small SRF group was formed in Ajijic. They held a short service for Winnifred on August 23, followed by a luncheon to celebrate her life at a nearby restaurant.
Winnifred made many friends at lakeside, and will be sorely missed by all who knew her.
She is survived by her husband, Ronald, and her three children, David and Neil McIntosh, and Cynthia Best.
Audrey Rita Hoffnung
Audrey Rita Hoffnung, a well-known musical director in Guadalajara and at lakeside, died August 21 at the Bristol Regional Medical Center in Bristol, Tennessee. She was 88 years old.
Audrey was born in Johnstown, Pennsylvania, the daughter of Henry Richard Hagadus and Pauline Somogy Hagadus. She received extensive musical training in her youth, before moving as a young bride to Guadalajara in 1949. She relocated to Mexico City after a year, but later retuned to Guadalajara.
In total, Audrey lived in Mexico for 65 years (until 2014).
During this time, she worked as a language and music teacher and was the initial force behind the Jalisco State Choir and countless singing groups.
She was a co-founder of Tapateatro in Guadalajara, produced musicals, was a composer, and penned three published books.
Her most recent tome was “The Mexico I Remember,” a series of verbal snapshots of middle-class life in mid-20th century Mexico. In an earlier book, “The Magical Symphony of My Life,” she tells the story of an innocent 20-year-old American girl making her way in Mexico, while having to master a new language and prevailing macho culture.
As late as 2012 she directed a barbershop quartet that she formed, as well as a pop music quintet, “The Lollipops,” which played at various Lakeside venues.
Audrey is survived by her loving husband, Dr. William Hoffnung; sons Richard Oppenheim and Daniel Oppenheim (Julie); daughter Nancy Green (David); brother Ronald Hagadus; two beloved grandsons; stepsons Jack Hoffnung (Kimberly) and Lee Hoffnung (Wendy); and stepdaughter Hope Hoetzer-Cook. She was preceded in death by her brother, Arthur Hagadus.
Condolences and memories may be shared with the family and viewed by visiting oakley-cook.com. Donations in her memory should be made to the Lakeside Little Theatre by contacting Peter Luciano, This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it..">This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it..