Trudy Marshall

Trudy’s five sons, Scott, Greg, Ross, Neil and Bruce, daughters-in-law, and their extended families, wish to acknowledge the peaceful passing, and honour the life, of their mother. Teresa Gertrude Hohenadel was born and raised on her parents orchard in Penticton, BC along with her two brothers, Lou and Fran. Shortly after her graduation from high school, Gertie as she was then known, moved to Vancouver for nursing training at St. Paul’s Hospital, where she graduated as a Registered Nurse in 1945 and worked briefly as a pediatric nurse. In 1946, she married Bob Marshall, who she met in high school, on his return from service in Europe with the Canadian Army.

The birth of her five sons followed in the years from 1947 to 1959. In 1966, Trudy returned to work as a school nurse on a part-time basis, employed by the City of Vancouver, before enrolling at UBC in 1968 and obtaining a diploma in Public Health. She then worked full-time for the City of Vancouver as a community health nurse until her retirement in 1987, by which time she had risen to a position in the Vancouver Health Department overseeing the provision of nursing services to Vancouver schools.

Predeceased by her husband in 1986, Trudy retired in 1987 and moved to Cordova Bay in Victoria to be with family in 1988. Trudy volunteered in several elementary schools and on the speakers bureau in hospice. She supported the Victoria Symphony, the Belfry Theatre and many other charities for many years.

The above summary of Trudy’s life was taken from notes she prepared for her own obituary, somewhat prematurely, almost 20 years before her death. Her notes ended with the words “interests-family first, music and friends. Loved Victoria! a long life, and a happy one”.

Trudy had a long and varied history of volunteer work, from teaching prenatal classes in the late 1950’s, for which she was eminently qualified, to the work she did at hospice. In all such work Trudy took on a leadership role, often where no one else was prepared to do so, and always cheerfully and with a smile on her face. She never sought to advance her own interests, but always put the interests of others first, particularly with respect to family. Clearly, Trudy’s life was one to be celebrated.

Special thanks are due to Trudy’s daughter-in-law, Diane, for the companionship and care she provided to Trudy after her move to Victoria, and for undertaking the tasks of Trudy’s care, both in-home for several years and then for three and a half years at Selkirk Seniors Residence. Thanks are due in particular to Nurse Flo, who supervised the care for Trudy at Selkirk Seniors Residence, and to her staff. We would also like to acknowledge Trudy’s very special friend, Dewey Evans, who was the head of the Department of Health in Vancouver, and his wife Kathi, who remained in regular contact with Trudy by telephone and by frequent trips to Victoria after Trudy’s move.

Trudy leaves behind her sons, daughters-in-law, and a large number of grandchildren and great-grandchildren, with a total of 45 direct descendants at last count. When asked to describe Trudy as a person in one word, the word most usually used by family and friends was “gracious”, which in the extended meaning includes “kind, courteous, and generous”. She was a leader wherever she lived and worked and was always happy, enthusiastic, and optimistic. As her extended family we can only hope to live up to the examples she set for us during her “long” and “happy” life.

Although not religious later in life, Trudy was once asked whether she believed in life after death. After a pause for thought, Trudy replied “I will always live on in the minds of my family and friends.”.

An informal gathering of the family to celebrate Trudy’s life will be held later this year when time and travel plans permit. Testimonials from friends are welcomed and will be shared with the family.