Trudie was born in Vancouver on March 19, 1922, the oldest of three children. Predeceased by her husband, James Nicol Sharp, parents Ann (Queenie) Mason and William (Bill) Henry, sister Verona Hiebert and brother William (Bill) Henry. Trudie is survived by her children William Laird (Larry) Sharp (Tina Lonnenberg), Barbara Ann Sharp and Patricia Jean Sharp and grandchildren Aleicia and Kristi, 2 great grandchildren and various nieces and nephews.
Trudie grew up in Vancouver and attended John Oliver High School where she met the love of her life, Jim Sharp. Trudie was a Head Buyer in the Hudson’s Bay Company until she began her family. She then worked for Woodward’s and BC Hydro (retiring in 1987). A great sense of humour Trudie joked about how surprised BC Hydro must be that she was “still around”.
A trailblazer, Trudie had a contagious zest for life, travelling extensively both in Canada, the USA, and Europe mostly with her daughters Barbara & Patricia. Trudie’s adventures saw her at the Grande Bazaar in Istanbul, a gondola in Venice, the Matterhorn in Switzerland, a glider above Pemberton valley, an airboat in the Florida Everglades and atop the walls in Dubrovnik. She proudly touched the Pacific and Atlantic oceans and enjoyed a wild adventure of a horse ride in Arizona. The casino and bingo were two of her favourite social activities where she easily made friends (and was lucky too). Many solo bus trips to Reno and plane rides to Las Vegas with one or both of her daughters. And unusual…Trudie said if she lived to be 90 she would get a tattoo! She had a beautiful set of angel wings on her shoulder (because it wouldn’t sag on the shoulder).
A strong woman ahead of her times, Trudie passed on her strength and independence to her two daughters. She was an excellent example of an independent woman for her generation living life to its fullest. Trudie always said “life is for the living” and she continued to love life for over 30 years following her husband Jimmie’s death. She would want all of us to continue to love life as well. Generous to a fault you could find Trudie staying up late to knit scarves Christmas Eve for gifts to the two granddaughters for Christmas.
The family wishes to thank all the emergency staff at the Langley Memorial Hospital for making Trudie’s final days peaceful and painless and allowing the daughters and her friend Kathy McMahon to be by her side 24/7.
A private celebration of life for Trudie will be held later where friends can toast Trudie with a glass of her favourite champagne. In lieu of flowers Trudie would love to have any donations sent to the Red Cross, the Union Gospel Mission, the Salvation Army or the Langley Memorial Hospital Foundation.
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