Mom’s Memorial Page
It’s with a heavy heart I announce the passing of my mom, friend and long-time business partner, Audrey Sage, Jan 3 2025, in her 95th year.
Mom spent over 30 years pursuing her passion for antiques, especially pressed glass, by involving herself in the antiques and auction business.
In 1985 she joined me in the antique business, in my little shop at highways 400 & 88, Bradford Ont.
Together we ran Rob’s Place Antiques, from 1984-1994. Mom looked after the “smalls” and I focused on furniture, lamps and primitives.
We frequented local antique auctions and were regulars at Kahn Country Auctions in Pickering and Mckenna auctions in Orangeville. I estimated we attended over 1500 auctions.
It was not unusual for us to be unloading my Nissan pickup at 1 or 2 o’clock in the morning at the store. Also was not unusual for the police to stop in and check out what we were doing!
Mom spent almost 50 Sundays a year for 10 years working the store with me.
Eventually the property was sold, and after working a couple of years for local auctioneers, in 1996, I started Rob Sage Auctions.
Mom worked almost every auction with me doing setup, clerking and cleanup, for the next 24 years. In fact, just before her 90th birthday Mom was still helping set up the auctions! She had recently moved to a long term care home in Beeton, and I would pick her up, and with the help of her walker, she was unpacking for the auction!
Mom loved the antiques and auction business and enjoyed the people she met through the auctions. We put in some long hours, and some tough working conditions, but she thrived on all of it.
When the pandemic forced me to go online, I kept Mom updated on everything I was doing and everything happening in the business.
We worked together for over 30 years and Mom would proudly state we never had an argument, and I would respond “well the big one may be coming yet!” It never happened.
Mom passed peacefully with her family by her side, holding her hands, and we all had a chance to tell her how much we loved her and what a wonderful mother she was. I feel blessed to have had that opportunity, and blessed to have had her for so long in our lives.
I thank everyone in the auction community, buyers and sellers, for helping to make those many years, so fulfilling and exciting for Mom.
We will miss her terribly but take comfort in the memories.
Rob
Yes, this is it…after 27 years of live and online auctions, I’ve made the decision to retire!
Bidding Opened Sunday June 11 6:00 Pm
