The family of Truda (Trudy) Laurie Howard are deeply saddened to announce her passing on January 13, 2025, in her 70th year. She was the loving wife for 49 years of John William Howard, and a very proud mother of four children, Sarah, Emily and her partner Don McArthur, Gordon and his partner Alexis Perrin, and Gregory.
Truda was predeceased by her mother Ruth (nee Blank) Plumer (1988), father William Edward Plumer (2018), and stepmother Jeannette (nee Braid) Plumer (2011), brothers-in-laws John Peters (1984), Ernie Matschke (2017), and nephew Jamie Peters (2024).
Truda was the second-youngest of the Plumer family. She will be missed by her sisters Lynne Matschke and Kristen Peters of Port Rowan, Lee Normet (Tom) of Meaford, Betty Paton (Chris) of St. Catharines, and brother Albe Plumer of Victoria, BC. Truda will also be missed by her one niece, six nephews, and several great-nieces and nephews.
Truda was involved in church activities from a young age, singing in the youth choir and eventually teaching Sunday School at St. Mark’s Anglican Church in Niagara-on-the-Lake. It was there that she met and eventually married her husband John. Truda always tended to jump in with both feet and became an extremely active member of the community. In Hamilton, where she lived with her family for 20 years, she spearheaded the formation of a parents’ group that provided a breakfast program at Prince of Wales Public School, an inner city school where she also served on a committee which developed a toy lending library. Truda promoted the formation of a cabaret singing group made up of members of the choir of the Church of St. Peter, Hamilton, to which she and the rest of her family belonged. She sewed costumes and designed and built sets for the Annual Dinner Cabaret, a major fundraiser for the parish. When daughter Emily joined the CFL Hamilton Tiger Cats Pep Band and the band needed someone to play the cymbals, Truda stepped up to take on the task.
Moving to Meaford in 2007, Truda quickly became involved. She was always an advocate for accessibility in the community, but after suffering a stroke following a kidney transplant in 2015 she served as a proud member of the Municipality of Meaford Accessibility Committee, she helped organize the monthly Community Dinners at Christ Church Meaford for a number of years, raising funds for different charities in Meaford, Collingwood, and Owen Sound. Truda was the cheerful face taking orders when she was able to volunteer for the weekly Monday morning Community Breakfast program. Truda, following in her father’s footsteps, proudly served as Warden at Christ Church for five years. She enjoyed organizing the annual Robbie Burns and Irish Stew suppers and was pivotal in organizing many other community and church events. She was an avid supporter of Meaford-area churches’ ecumenical World Day of Prayer. She raised funds for various charities outside of the church whenever possible.
Truda enjoyed sewing and was an accomplished seamstress, tailoring for herself, her children, and anyone who asked. Camping for most of her married life in tents she was pleased to move up to the small secondhand RPod camper trailer she and her husband purchased in 2022. Cooking and baking from a young age she proudly passed along that skill to her daughters and sons. Truda was the greatest cheerleader for her favourite football team, the Hamilton Tiger Cats, but most of all her family was her favourite choice of people to cheer on, whether it be when her kids were growing up in sports or other school activities, or when they got older and succeeded in work and careers. Truda often remarked that her kids had a knack for finding those who needed a friend the most. They came by it honestly, as Truda herself never allowed her own struggles to prevent her from offering support to someone in need.
The Howard family wishes to thank the doctors, nurses, personal service workers, specialists, x-ray technicians, cleaning staff, emergency services personnel and administrative staff of Brightshores Health System in Meaford, Owen Sound, and Markdale for the excellent care they provided during Truda’s multiple visits over the years.
Friends and family are welcome to attend a visitation at the Ferguson Funeral Home, Meaford from 5 until 8 p.m. on Friday, January 17, 2025.
A funeral service celebrating Truda’s life will be conducted at the Christ Church Anglican in Meaford on Saturday, January 18, 2025, at 1 p.m., with a reception following in the Galleries at Meaford Hall.
Donations in memory of Truda would be appreciated for: Christ Church Anglican, Meaford (cheques only please); Meaford Hospital Foundation; Georgian Triangle Humane Society; or a charitable organization of your choice, which may be made through the Ferguson Funeral Home, 48 Boucher St. E., Meaford, ON, N4L 1B9, to whom arrangements have been entrusted.
