In Loving Memory of Avril Hendrickson

After a brief, but courageous battle against cancer, Avril Louise Hendrickson peacefully entered Eternity on January 22, 2019. She was surrounded by her immediate family at their home in Elizabeth, Colorado.

The oldest of four children, Avril was born to Margaret and Leif Rovick in Liverpool, England following the end of World War II. Her mother was a First Lieutenant in the British Army and her father was a First Lieutenant in the United States Army.

At the age of one year, she and her parents immigrated to the United States, going first to Minnesota and later moving to northern California. Following high school graduation, she attended UC Berkeley where she continued her study of French, eventually becoming fluent in that language.

As a child, she watched a Billy Graham crusade on television and accepted Jesus as her Savior. Her love for Him compelled her to share the Good News of Jesus with people she met throughout her life. In 1993, she began meeting with a group of women who became very dear friends as they met together weekly for prayer.

In 1968, Avril moved to Los Angeles. It was there she met Doug Hendrickson, a Colorado farm boy, who also felt a call to Southern California. They were married on February 12, 1971 and would have celebrated 48 years of marriage this year. They were married the weekend after the 1971 Los Angeles earthquake. Though the ground was shaky—literally—that weekend, their marriage was based on the firm foundation of their love for God and each other. During their honeymoon in San Diego, they ate at the Charthouse Restaurant, starting a tradition that continued throughout their marriage. Doug says that, humanly speaking, Avril was the most gracious person he has ever known. She allowed God to fill that human graciousness with His grace and the two together caused Avril’s life to be a stunning expression of Christ’s grace.

Ministry with their church took them to Dallas, where their daughter, Cassia, was born and eventually to Denver, where their daughter, Gwenna, was born. According to her daughters, Avril was “the best mom ever” an example of so many good qualities and an amazing friend. In the final six months of her life, Cassia and Gwenna were honored to give back to their mom and to be her constant caregivers.

Avril was a voracious reader, gleaning every bit of knowledge possible to pass on to others. She dubbed herself “the accidental healthy nut” as she was passionate about educating and mentoring others on health and diet related issues. She loved to read and study the Bible and was always willing to help and encourage others in their faith. In her free time, she enjoyed the outdoors and liked hiking, camping, and body surfing.

In addition to being a loving wife and mother, she helped Doug in their fire and water restoration business. She was also a brand ambassador for an array of Naturopath companies.

Survivors include her husband, Doug, of Elizabeth; daughters Cassia, of Denver, and Gwenna, of Virginia Beach, Virginia; her brother, Hal and sister-in-law, Debbie of Soquel, California; her sister Bridget Dumas of Watsonville, California, and her sister-in-law, Donna Hendrickson, of Greeley. She will also be missed by her numerous nieces and nephews who lovingly called her “Aunt Avril.”

She was preceded in death by her parents, Margaret and Leif Rovick, her sister, Rosemary Rovick, and her parents-in-law, Lucille and John Hendrickson.

A celebration of her life will be held at 11am on Friday, March 1^st 2019 at Jubilee Fellowship Church 9830 Lone Tree Pkwy, Lone Tree, CO 80124, reception to follow. Because her husband, Doug, is a veteran of the Vietnam War, Avril had the honor of being buried at Fort Logan National Cemetery on February 5, 2019.

Memorial gifts may be made to “Christian Ministries” which is a ministry founded by Doug and Avril. Send contributions to Christian Ministries PO Box 1464 Elizabeth, Colorado 80107. You may also donate to Cassia’s home church, Jubilee Fellowship Church, 9830 Lone Tree Pkwy, Lone Tree, CO 80124. You can donate online www.jfc.org and click on the give button on their website. Both organizations are 501c3’s. Any flowers given in Avril’s memory may be delivered between 10 and 10:30am on March 1^st to Jubilee Fellowship Church 9830 Lone Tree Pkwy, Lone Tree, CO 80124.