Trudy M Neilson

Trudy Neilson, passed away peacefully on January 20, 2019 at the age of  78, after a courageous battle with lung cancer. 

Trudy was born on November 9, 1940 in New York City to Chester and Helen Mitchell Reed.

She attended Sherman Park Seminary in Port Henry, NY and Holy Name School on 96th Street in NY, NY.   Trudy was a fighter from a young age, after growing up in a rough New York City neighborhood and learning how to hold her own.  She was rough and tumble;  her older sister Carol remembers her often being truant from school and stealing her clothes.  

Trudy married her first love Bartholomew ‘Bart’ Tobin as a teenager and they saved their money and bought their first home in Monroe New York.  Here they raised their two daughters Deborah and Donna.  

Trudy was an independent woman who worked in the school cafeteria, as a bank teller and eventually moving on to be the Administrator at Arden Hill Hospital.  She later worked in Lexington Avenue in New York City, up early commuting each day to her job as a Manager for Wells Management.         

It was in New York City restaurant where Trudy met the love of her life, John Neilson.  They were married and the moved to Bermuda.      

Trudy and John lived in Bermuda for a few years before moving to Falmouth England, where they spent several years sailing the English Channel and the Mediterranean Sea.  They eventually settled in Ibiza, Spain, where Trudy took Spanish lessons and spent weekends sailing the seas. 

 After leaving Spain Trudy and John moved to Scotland and became involved in the Dalbeattie theatre group and enjoyed hiking and traveling around the UK and Scotland. 

Eventually Trudy’s heart called her back to New York to be closer to her young grandchildren Kristen and Michael.  She spent great times with them teaching them about art and feeding them too much candy.   Trudy or ‘Me-Me’ as they liked to call her, took extreme pride in her two grandchildren, Kristen Marie, now 22, and  Michael, Bart, ‘Mikey’ now 20, both now attending college in the Northeast.  

While back in New York, Trudy and John also started painting and organized the Wurtsboro Art Alliance.  Creating an art studio where local artists could display their work.  

In 2010 Trudy and John moved to Boca Raton, Florida to return to warm weather and be closer to Trudy’s sister Carol.  In Florida, Trudy was an active member of her new community, participating in her condo board, volunteering at West Boca Medical Center, participating in multiple women’s groups including a local bowling league and yoga classes.  Always up for a game of some kind, cards, cribbage, scrabble, mahjong, you name it, she played it and usually won it.  Known lovingly as ‘Jeff the Ref’ by her brother-in-law Andy due to her uncanny ability to reference detailed rules of ALL games.    

Trudy was diagnosed with lung cancer in 2015 and her family was told to make arrangements.  Of course Mom had another plan…She took golf and piano lessons and was often out and about with her daughters going to plays, mini-golf, or  off to the beach, oxygen in tow.  She never complained and accepted with grace her fate; a woman to make anyone proud, a loving mother, grandmother, sister, aunt, wife, and friend.  Her memory and her strength will live on forever in those of us lucky enough to have known and loved Trudy Neilson.  

Always a fighter, with a curious mind and an adventurous spirit

Trudy is preceded in death by parents; Chester and Helen Reed, spouse, John Neilson, brother, Chester Reed and sister in law Helen Reed.

Trudy is survived by daughters, Debbie (Ernie) and Donna (Chris), sister Carol(Andy), grandchildren Kristen and Michael, nieces Joyce, Laurie, Holly, nephews, Brendan Rourke, Robert, Richard, Paul, Steven, and a host of second and third cousins,great nieces, great nephews and other beloved friends and relatives; and beloved extended family

A memorial service will be held on ThursdayJanuary 24, 2019
from 2:00 PM to 4:00 PM at the funeral home.

Professional arrangements by:
Gary Panoch Funeral Home
6140 N. Federal Highway
Boca Raton, FL 33487

561-997-8580
www.gpanochfunerals.com

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