Obituary of Trudy Kassner

Trudy died on November 3, 2020, peacefully, in her sleep. She was 97.

Predeceased by her husband Max and her sister Eleanor Farrar, Trudy will be immensely missed by her children Michael (Sue), Johannah (Robert), Stephen (Lucia), and Ron (Julia), and by her brother Tom Schneider (Elaine), and be lovingly remembered by her grandchildren Asheya (Conan), John (Crystal), David (Amber), Jamie (Meaghan), Daniel (Neda), Eva (Vidar), Matt (Jennifer), Emily (Chris), Jessa, Chris, Talia (Ryan), Julia (Jahmar) and Purnima, and her great- grandchildren Elias, Eowyn, Amadeus, Kaitlyn, Jacob, Lily, Megan, Ben, Ea, Leo, Maria and Camila. Trudy also had great relationships with her nephews, nieces and cousins in the U.S. as well as caring and compassionate friends in Ottawa.

Trudy was born in Vienna in 1923 to parents Ernst and Hedy Schneider. As war clouds gathered and life became dangerous, the family fled Austria in 1939, immigrated to America on the Queen Mary and settled into an apartment in Manhattan. Drawing on her skating success in Austria, Trudy interrupted her schooling to join a touring skate show as a professional figure skater, thereby supporting her family for a number of years. After receiving her degree at Hunter College, she began her career as an advocate for the World Federalists.

Trudy and Max married in 1948 and immigrated to Montreal. In 1964 they and their 4 children moved to Belmont Ave in Ottawa where, after Max died in 1989, Trudy continued to live until 2016. Careers in Ottawa included CBC radio freelancer, figure skating teacher, university teacher (German), elementary school teacher (French), travel agent, and collectibles retailer.

Trudy was a generous donator to charities and was a lifelong member and supporter of the Unitarian Church.

Trudy had a cheerful love of life and enjoyed traveling, socializing, reading, attending theatre, hosting festive meals and keeping up with world developments and trends. Above all she was a devoted mother, grandmother and great-grandmother. In later years she delighted in spending time with her grandchildren and great grandchildren, sometimes taking them on trips, always interested in their well-being, their interests and their thoughts.

We would like to thank the exceptional staff at Colonel By Retirement Residence who provided caring and loving support over the last 4 years.

When larger gatherings are again permitted, a Celebration of Life ceremony will be held to commemorate Trudy and to share wonderful memories and what she meant to all of us.