Ellis, Trudy Maryanne (Soyko). “Don’t let the rapture pass you by”. Words she held dear and shared so often with her family and friends. While cancer took her away too soon, her heart was always full and life never passed her by. Surrounded by family, Trudy passed away peacefully on October 26th, 2019 while under care at Royal Victoria Regional Health Centre in Barrie. She is pre-deceased by her parents, William and Mabel Soyko, and brother Ed Soyko. She is survived by husband and best friend, Ken Ellis; and her children, Liam (Jade) and Lada (Kevin), and grandchildren, Maeve and Fitzgerald, and her sister-in-law Pat, her niece Kim and nephews, Ted and Jon, and their families.
Trudy was born in Thunder Bay, ON and raised in Sarnia, ON where her parents owned the Vendome Hotel. It was here where Trudy’s relentless hospitable nature took shape, alongside her knack for cooking for the masses. Trudy and Ken built a life together in different communities such as Waterloo, Toronto, Scarborough, Burlington, and eventually settled in Snow Valley just outside of Barrie...recently they have taken up living half the year at their cottage in Victoria Harbour, ON.
Trudy worked at Snow Valley Ski Resort for over two decades and, together with Ken, partnered to run several ventures and businesses such as THESTUDENTSCHOOL, Summer Adventures Day Camp, Huronia Alpine Development Team and Canadian Alpine Racing Supplies. Through these ventures they worked tirelessly to help kids, families, schools and ski resorts within the community. Trudy was always active in real estate and later in life became a real estate agent; this was another example of her entrepreneurial spirit and passion for helping people.
Trudy loved music, literature, theatre, skiing, sailing, windsurfing, riding horses, the beach, and her book club (and wine). She travelled all over the world and made new friends wherever the road took her.
Two of her favourite places were Cape Hatteras and the cottage. All of these fell second in line to her love for her family, and her nature to be a mother to all. She will be greatly missed, and celebrated, by the Ellis and Soyko families and the countless people whose lives she touched.
Friends will be received at the STECKLEY-GOODERHAM FUNERAL HOME, 30 Worsley St., Barrie, on Wednesday, October 30th, 2019 from 12pm to 3pm and 6pm to 9pm. A private family service to follow. A public celebration of life event for Trudy will be planned and details communicated in the coming weeks. In memory of Trudy donations may be made to the RVRHC – Cancer Centre or to the Children’s Aid Foundation – Simcoe Muskoka Family Connections. Online condolences www.steckleygooderham.com