KRIEVINS, Gertrude 'Trudi' - Just before dawn on a beautiful Sunday morning August 30, 2020, Trudi went into the light.
She passed away as she had always wanted, with daughters Tami and Inky holding her hands, at her cherished Etobicoke home where she had lived since 1960.
Somehow we always thought since Trudi had reached 97 years of age, she would just go on forever, so it will be an adjustment learning to live without her, but we know we’ll have her happiness to remember and her guidance from above for what the future holds.
Trudi’s sharp mind and wit will be sorely missed, but we are grateful that she no longer has to endure the daily pain she had suffered for the past many years.
Trudi was born July 9, 1923, in Rīga, Latvia. Trudi never let the war or post-war displacement challenges of her early life define her. She was full-hearted with love and respect for all - and always made sure to have a smile for everyone.
As a DP, Trudi realized the calling of taking care of others and received her RN accreditation in England.
The fearless family trailblazer, with younger sister Margrieta in tow, came to Canada in 1951 to take a position at Women’s College Hospital, where she remained for her entire career. The two sisters lived off canned plums to save money to bring the rest of the family over to rejoin them as soon as possible.
A young man Trudi had met in England, Jānis Krieviņš, changed his plans to emigrate to Australia, and followed her to Canada. Trudi recognized that he was her soulmate, and being a good dancer, Jānis clinched the deal, as Trudi did so love to dance. They married in 1952.
Their lives were filled with Latvian diaspora arriving in Canada - great friends that they had for the entirety of their lives. The joy and gratitude that Trudi and Jānis shared transcended to multiple generations of their friends.
Cremation has taken place, with a private interment to follow at a later date.
Trudi and Jānis are together again, cutting a rug, up on the big dance floor in the sky – let’s celebrate them both by loving the music, keeping a spring in our steps and remembering all the wonderful memories.
In memory of Trudi, tribute donations in lieu of flowers would be appreciated by the family to Kristus Dārzs Latvian Foundation or Latvian Canadian Cultural Centre.
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