Our beloved, beautiful Trudi slipped away from the bonds of infirmity on Thursday, July 7, 2022, reclaiming freedom and peace. Her departure ended a protracted and heroic struggle with Multiple Sclerosis and Parkinson’s Disease. She was predeceased by her mother, Marie Conrad (née Thompson), her father, Edward Conrad and her brother, Ted Conrad.
Leaving to mourn her, are many. To begin, there is her family. She leaves her devoted, now deeply grieving husband Norman, his son, Dr. Christopher Prelypchan (Dr. Laura Zeznik), their sons, Max and Finn and Norman’s daughter, Erin Prelypchan (Kris Hooper). Theirs was the immense blessing, having Trudi as part of their lives, though for far too short a time. The more fortunate are those family members who had Trudi for most of their lives. Those to mourn are her sister, Patricia Murray (Dr. Alistair Murray), Patricia’s son, Drew Denny, Trudi’s brother, Duncan Conrad (Cherie) and their children Kelly and Scott Conrad (Ashley).
She leaves cousins, extended family and many closely held friends. There are also those who mourn having enjoyed Trudi’s friendship arising largely by association, through her life of music. Each now grieving, accepts that they were favored by Trudi’s love, expressed in her own special way, without judgment.
Trudi will be remembered as someone who lived her life with a sense of grace that easily touched others. She was recognized as an exceptional Violinist, as well as an inspiring Teacher. Tributes to her flow from her influence on the community of fellow performers, from her students and from the listening audiences before whom she once performed.
Trudi loved travel. She fondly reminisced about the encouragement she received from a teacher in her early years, urging her to play her violin as best she could and from that effort, perhaps enjoy the opportunity to see more of the world. See the world she did, during the time she was a student and later as a performer with many orchestras. After retirement was brought about because of her illnesses, she revisited that life of travel with Norman until her broken body could no longer endure the challenges. Still, her gracious spirit never yielded.
It will be a different world without her. A brilliant light that she was, has left us.
A Service of Thanksgiving and Celebration of Life for Trudi will be held at Christ Church Cathedral, 930 Burdett Avenue, Victoria, BC, on Tuesday, September 13, 2022, at 1:30 pm.
Condolences may be offered to family below.
McCall Gardens
www.mccallgardens.com
142 Responses
Trudi taught my son violin many years and I attended all sessions. She was a wonderfully patient teacher and always had her lovely smile and kind words of encouragement. We were lucky to reconnect later in life after she met Norman. He was very lucky they found each other.
Norman,
Thank you kindly for letting me know.
In addition to being a beautiful person, Trudi was a wonderful and talented violinist, teacher, and mentor. I wish we’d had a chance to reconnect in recent years but we exchanged several emails after I had my son and I know she’d be happy to know I still play violin and my children have been learning for years too. I learned a lot from her and try to share what Trudi taught me with my kids.
She will be missed.
It’s never easy to lose a loved one and I wish you peace and courage during this sad and difficult time.
Thank you again for letting me know.
Sincerely,
Marie
Norman,
I can’t tell you how sad I felt on reading your note a few minutes ago.
Trudi was one of those unbelievably warm and wonderful people. She seemed perfect from top to bottom!!
So generous with her time and talent; so loving of all her students (and others’ students).
So talented.
So warm-hearted!
Did she ever stop smiling???
I wonder….
I must say that her beautiful smile became even more beautiful when she met you!!!
She seemed so happy and so in love.
It was wonderful to see you together.
We bumped into you two at the end of your Ireland trip and despite her issues, you two seemed to just love that trip.
It is so good that you did things like that together.
I so appreciate how Trudi responded when I invited her to Patrick’s concerts.
She just wanted to be there!!!
And her big beaming smile filled the hall….
We all felt it.
Thank you so much for notifying us. I sent your note on to Patrick and I know he’ll be feeling just like I am feeling right now (and how so many around Victoria will be felling today).
I sent huge hugs of sympathy your way, Norman!!
With love,
Wendy
We we are deeply saddened to learn of Trudi’s death. She was an amazingly warm and upbeat person, regardless of circumstances. We remember when she recorded Krista’s laugh for a little pick me up when she needed it. We will all miss her terribly and offer our sincerest condolences to Norman Patricia and Alistair, she will be dearly missed.
Norm,
I just wanted to send my sincere condolences for the loss of Trudi. I know it has been a hard few years without her at home but I am sure this still feels shocking and surreal.
Let me know how I can support – sending all of our love from Mountjoy.
Bri and babies
Dear Norman,
I am so saddened to hear that you lost your beloved Trudi, but also happy that you had so many wonderful years together. I remember hearing about your love story! You were so lucky to have found each other when you did. You made that happen!
Having met in the Victoria Schools Orchestra as high school students, we quickly discovered how silly we could be together.
Trudi and I were ‘best buds’ in the Victoria Symphony for the 10 years I played in it. We were roommates on tour, and prided ourselves on breaking the invisible barrier between the strings and the winds. We would get them laughing together so much at the pub, that silliness ensued!
Trudi and I also shared big gums, and exaggerated them by grinning and laughing at each other during rehearsals. We had a great time poking fun at ourselves together.
Trudi was a joy to be around, always Nobody could have been more positive and upbeat. I know you will have many happy memories forever. All my memories are good ones too.
Thank you so much for letting me know.
Hilary (Coupland) Sandford ~ (also married to a Norman).
Dear Norman,
We are very sorry to hear of Trudi’s passing.
She was one of the bright lights that is truly irreplaceable.
Your constant care and love for Trudi gave her greater quality of life. We deeply miss Trudi and will always remember her kindness and vivacity. The world is poorer with her passing.
May she rest in peace.
With deep sympathy,
Gabrielle & Adrian
Dear Norman, dear family and friends of Trudi,
Trudi’s smile and her generously shared love for life, for others, for music will stay with us. Full of light. We can only imagine your sorrow and, with our poor words, we hold your hand. We share the pain of her husband, of her family, and of the many many friends who had the joy to know her and love her. We send you our condolences and we hope that the memory of her smile will bring you some serenity and appeasement in this time of grief.
I count as a blessing to have met Trudi at concerts, in gardens, on dog walks and then for brunches. Her love for France was always in our conversations, too, and she reminded me each time that the world is a beautiful place, life holds many promises and… we should enjoy them fully!
We will miss her and we’ll keep her smile, her talent and her kindness as gifts.
Hélène and Jan Just
Dear Norman,
We were saddened to read of Trudi’s death. I remembered her from many years at school, beginning with Grade 6 at Sir James Douglas and then through to Grade 12 at Vic High. Her grad photo and accompanying write-up accentuates her exceptional talent as a violinist. David and I (and our late pooch, Jersey) loved running into you, Trudi and Gus (remember, Jersey had a special crush on Gus!) in the neighbourhood.
Our deepest condolences on your loss. She was an exceptional person who met MS head-on and lived life to its fullest. Onward – Heather and David
Dear Norman,
It’s with deep sorrow that I have learned of Trudi’s passing.
Trudi was a very talented violinist with a remarkable musical intelligence.
I had the privilege of teaching Trudi for a few years in Victoria and Quebec City. Let’s all remember that after only three years at the Conservatoire de musique de Québec, she unanimously and with great distinction won all the honors with her violin performances.
I believe she now rests in peace. Her legacy will remain with the students and the general public that she has touched and loved so much. She will leave an everlasting mark in Victoria’s musical scene.
I am very proud to have been one of her teachers. Please accept my deepest condolences to you, the family and friends.
Jean Angers
Emeritus Professor
Conservatory of Music
From Quebec City.
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Cher Norman
Je suis très attristé d’apprendre le décès de Trudi. Mes très scincères condoléances à vous et à toute sa famille et Amis.
J’ai eu le privilège d’enseigner Trudi durant quelques années à Victoria et à Québec.
Trudi avait un grand talent pour le violon et une intelligence musicale remarquable.
Après seulement trois ans au conservatoire de musique de québec, elle a obtenue un premier prix de violon à l’unanimité et avec Grande distinction.
Je suis très fier d’avoir été l’un de ses professeurs. Elle a laissée une marque très importante
dans la vie musicale de Victoria.
Je crois qu’elle repose maintenant en paix et satisfaite de ce qu’elle a donné à ses élèves et au grand publique de Victoria.
Jean Angers
Professeur Émérite
Conservatoire de Musique
De Québec.