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
Dear Norman and family,
My family and I send to you our heartfelt condolences on the passing of our dearest Trudi. Trudi was greatly loved and admired by all of us in the symphony and will be forever missed. The Celebration of Trudi’s life was incredibly beautiful and moving. Thank you so much for letting those of us who are far away participate so that we could share in this moment of refection together.
For 11 years Trudi sat in front of me in the first violin section of the Victoria Symphony. Her constant smilie, joyous spirit and enthusiasm for music made playing in the section a pleasure. We were also teaching colleagues at the Victoria Conservatory and Victoria String Camp. Trudi was always the favourite teacher, so encouraging and supportive to all of her devoted students.
Trudi was there for me as a dear friend at my wedding and my baby shower. I was overjoyed and delighted to be invited to your beautiful wedding at Christ Church Cathedral in 2008. I was also in the audience for Trudi’s final performance with the Victoria Symphony, such a lovely tribute given to a treasured member of the orchestra.
A few years ago, Trudi telephoned me in Calgary. What a wonderful surprise! We reminisced about our Victoria Conservatory String Quartet concert and many other memorable occasions. Trudi and I exchanged news about our families and we both said how happy we were to have connected again.
I am heartbroken with you, dear Norman, at the loss of our beloved Trudi. Rest in Peace, dearest friend.
Lieber Norm, wir fühlen mit Dir während der Zeit Deines Schmerzes und des großen Verlustes von Trudi.
Während Deiner Trauer und der inneren sowie der nächtlichen Dunkelheit, möge Dich der Abendsegen stärken und trösten!
Unser Abendgebet steige auf zu dir, Herr,
und es senke sich auf uns herab dein Erbarmen .
Dein ist der Tag und dein ist die Nacht.
Laß, wenn des Tages Schein vergeht,
das Licht deiner Wahrheit uns leuchten.
Geleite uns zur Ruhe der Nacht und vollende
dein Werk an uns in Ewigkeit .
Amen.
Trudy und ihre Lebensbilanz sind ganz außergewöhnlich!
Sie war bereit, der Welt alles zu geben!
Musik ist eine heilige Kunst!
Die Kunst war viele Jahre der Mittelpunkt ihres Daseins und ihr wurde die umfangreichste und höchste Anerkennung durch ihr Umfeld, ihre berühmten Lehrer, Kollegen; aber auch durch ein dankbares Publikum zuteil.
Ich bin sicher, dass die größte Erfüllung dieses Lebensabschnittes für sie das Geschenk war, sich durch die Musik zu definieren und dieses allumfassende, herzergreifende, erhebende und dramatische Gefühl auszuleben und an die Menschen weiterzugeben.
Diese geistige, seelische und körperliche Einheit immer wieder zu erreichen, erfordert ein Gesamtkonzept, welches so viele Voraussetzungen erfüllen muss, dass man es nicht in Worte fassen kann.
Trudy wurde in Salzburg und Paris von namhaften Künstlern mit großem Erfolg ausgebildet.
Das war schon einmal ein Garant für eine gute Zukunft als Musikerin; aber das Allumspannende – ihr Geist und ihre Seele – spiegelten sich zum Beispiel in einem Konzert wider, bei dem Trudy die Position der Konzertmeisterin innehatte, welches ich miterlebte.
Alles floss durch ihren Körper und wuchs zu einer wundervollen Einheit zusammen, was mir ewig im Gedächtnis und vor meinem geistigen Auge präsent sein wird.
Es gibt im Leben eines Künstlers überhöhte Situationen und Interpretationskräfte, die sich nicht erklären lassen; aber es handelt sich dabei auch um ein Phänomen, welches man nicht lernen kann!
Trudy gehörte zu diesen außergewöhnlichen Menschen, denen diese Gnade in die Wiege gelegt wurde.
Diese umfassende, leuchtende Energie Trudy ‘s, gepaart mit ihrer Ästhetik, Liebe und Demut waren die Essenzen dessen, was jeder einigermaßen sensible Mensch fühlen konnte.
In mir jedenfalls öffnete sich mein Herz zu einem Überfluss an nachhaltiger Freude und Dankbarkeit und ich bin glücklich, dass ich ihr meine Eindrücke und Beglückung schildern konnte.
Ein strenger Wegbegleiter war die unbarmherzige Disziplin, welche sie für ihren professionellen Weg als Künstlerin; aber auch später, in hohem Maße für den außerordentlich schweren Weg ihrer Erkrankung aufzubringen hatte.
Bei einer Unterhaltung sagte sie einmal wörtlich zu mir:
“Weißt du Carmen, mit der Krankheit muss ich leben; aber
was würde ich ohne Norm machen?!”
Darüber hinaus ist uns klar, dass diese von Gott gespendete Ehe für uns ein Beispiel für Klarheit, Liebe und Hingabe ist und bleiben wird!
Wir wissen alle, wie durchschlagend die vorzeitige Beendigung ihres Musikerlebens war und was es bedeutete; aber wir lernen auch etwas über die Pläne Gottes und die Konstellationen, die ihr durch die Ehe mit Norm zuteil wurden!
Eine einzigartige, ganz neue Lebensbahn wurde ihr durch ihren
Ehegefährten aufgeschlossen und geschenkt.
Ihr wurde ein Partner zur Seite gestellt, der mit unverbrüchlicher Liebe und Treue den großen Kampf gegen die unumkehrbare Lebensbestimmung aufnahm!
“Wir können doch nicht gegen Gott kämpfen”, sagte einmal eine alte Frau zu mir, die gerade ihren Mann beerdigt hatte!
Ja, Gott macht Pläne – und keine Fehler!
Trudy’s bedeutsame Wesensart bleibt ein großes Beispiel und Vermächtnis, was ganz individuell ein jedes Herz von uns in sich aufgenommen hat.
Die Begegnungen und Erfahrungen mit und durch Trudy werden in uns weiterleben; aber auch Konsequenzen mit dem Blick auf die Welt, unser Umfeld und die eigene Zukunft haben.
Danke, Trudy!
Carmen
Gott wird abwischen alle Tränen von ihren Augen,
und der Tod wird nicht mehr sein,
noch Leid noch Geschrei noch Schmerz wird mehr sein;
denn das Erste ist vergangen!
Amen.
Offenbarung 21 Vers 4
——————————————-
Dear Norm, we sympathize with you during this time of pain and the great loss of Trudi.
During your mourning and the inner and nightly darkness, may the following evening blessing strengthen and comfort you!
May our evening prayer rise to you, Lord,
and may your mercy descend on us.
Yours is the day and yours is the night.
Once the day’s light fades,
Let the light of your truth shines on us.
Accompany us through the night and complete
your eternal work in us.
Amen.
In looking back on Trudy’s life, we recognize how extraordinary that life was!
She was always ready to give everything she could to others!
Music is a sacred form of Art!
For many years, Art was the focus of Trudy’s existence and she received the most extensive and highest recognition from others, from her famous teachers and colleagues; but also from so many appreciative audiences.
I am sure that, for her, the greatest fulfillment of this artistic period of her life was the gift of being able to define herself through music and to deeply experience and pass on to people this all-encompassing, heart-rending, uplifting and dramatic feeling.
Achieving this spiritual, mental and physical unity again and again requires an overall concept that has to meet so many requirements that it cannot be put into words.
Trudy was trained with great success in Salzburg and Paris by leading artists. These studies guaranteed her an excellent life as a musician.
The all-encompassing aspect of her musicianship – her spirit and her soul – is exemplified by a concert which I witnessed where Trudy held the position of concertmaster.
Everything flowed through her body and grew into a beautiful unity that will stay in my memory and in my mind’s eye forever.
In the life of an artist there are special situations and powers of interpretation that cannot be explained; but it is also a matter of a phenomenon that cannot be learned!
Trudy was one of those extraordinary people who were born with this gift of grace.
Trudy’s intense, luminous energy coupled with her aesthetic elegance, her love and humility were the essences of what any reasonably sensitive person could perceive.
In any case, my heart opened to an abundance of lasting joy and gratitude and I am happy that I was able to describe my impressions and happiness to her.
The relentless discipline which Trudy required for her professional life as an Artis was a strict and ever-present companion. The companion changed but remained remorseless during the very difficult years of her illness.
She once said to me: “You know Carmen, I have to live with the disease; but what would I do without a Norm?!”
It is clear that for everyone who has known Trudy and Norm, their God-given marriage was and will continue to be an example of clarity, love, and devotion!
We know how devastating the premature end of Trudy’s musical life was and what that demanded of her. But once again, we observe the mystery of God’s plans — the bitter end of a beautiful musical constellation , replaced by a profound union of two loving and selfless individuals!
A unique, completely new path in life was given Trudy by her ideal union with a man who was lovingly dedicated to her in every possible way.
She was given a partner who heroically took up a great fight against her irreversible destiny in life with total love and loyalty!
“We can’t fight against God,” said an old woman who had just buried her husband!
Yes, God makes plans – and no mistakes!
Trudy’s ardent personality remains a great example and legacy that each heart of us has individually absorbed.
The encounters and experiences with and through Trudy will live on in us; but also will have consequences for how we see our world and our own futures.
Thank you, Trudy!
Carmen
God will wipe away all tears from their eyes
and death will be no more
nor sorrow, nor outcry, nor pain will be more;
because the first has passed!
Amen.
Revelation 21 verse 4
Norm, I’m so grateful to you for getting me visit times with Trudi in the hospital. It was so good to be able to see her, and I was truly awed and inspired by the strength of her spirit and the positivity she maintained. That will always be with me.
I feel so fortunate that I got to be close friends with her for so many years. She always helped to lift my spirits when the going got tough, and her memory will continue to do so.
Many thanks arranging the memorial. It will be good to share all those memories and experiences with others who knew and loved her.
Our thoughts and condolences are with you, and we are here for you at any time.
Sally and Simon
Dear Norman,
I am truly saddened to hear about Trudi’s passing. While I obviously appreciated her talent as a musician, I shall really miss her ready smile whenever I would see both of you at various concerts and events.
warmest regards
Marcus
I am so sorry to hear that Trudi has died. I admired her musicianship, warmth, and especially her kindness, very much. I feel lucky to have known her. I’m sending heartfelt condolences to her family.
Dear Norman,
We were so sorry to hear of Trudi’s passing.
Our deepest sympathies go out to you and your family. May treasured memories help you through the difficult days ahead.
Unfortunately, we will not be able to attend the funeral. Our prayers are with you all.
God bless,
Melissa & Stephen Sparks and Aunty Olga Semotiuk
Dear Norman,
I was so sorry to hear of Trudi’s passing, which was a blessed relief from all her suffering. She was an amazing woman and a first class violinist and teacher whom I greatly admired. I have happy memories of us playing the Bach Double with the VSO when we were teenagers! Your true devotion and love for Trudi eased her suffering, and I am sending you my sincerest condolences.
Vivienne
Dear Norman,
We were very sorry to recently learn about Trudi.
Thinking of you and wishing you healing in the days ahead.
Our thoughts are with you during this difficult time.
Warmly,
Emma, Koji, Max and Mia
Dear Norman,
Deepest sympathy on the loss of your beloved Trudi.
She was a lovely person and you were such a devoted and caring husband.
She will be greatly missed by all who knew her.
Our sincere condolences,
Damaris and Denis Simair
Dear Norman,
Caring thoughts are with you and your family on the passing of your beloved Trudi.
Trudi was a gracious person who exuded joy and a love of life.
Your love story was equally beautiful to witness.
Wishing you peace and comfort in the cherished memories.
Pam & Sara