Obituary of Ortrude Martens

June 27, 1945 – Germany

October 8, 2023 – Calgary, Alberta

Ortrude “Trudy” Martens (nee Zerbin), of Calgary, AB, passed away gently on Sunday, October 8, 2023, at Rockyview General Hospital at the age of 78 years. Trudy is predeceased by her husband Hans Peter Martens (May 24, 2021).

Trudy was born on June 27, 1945, in Germany and was the fourth of five children to Wanda and Emil Zerbin. Trudy immigrated from Germany with her family when she was only three years old and settled in Winnipeg, Manitoba.  Trudy was always a hard worker. At the age of eight she delivered newspapers to homes in the East Kildonan/Elmwood area. She often had to walk half a kilometer to the next house. At the age of fourteen, Trudy was hired to be a nanny and went with her young charges by train to Minaki Lodge for the summer this being her first time away from home and family. Trudy met Peter in 1961 and they were married in 1963 when Trudy was eighteen years old. 

Trudy held various office, clerical, and customer service jobs both before she was married and after her youngest child entered school. She gave birth to her daughter (Corina) in 1966 and three years later to her son (Rodger). She stayed at home to care for her children and continued to stay busy sewing all their clothes and taking in other children to watch. She had toddlers as well as school age children who came for lunch and after school until they were picked up by their parents. She found a real passion and talent for sales and did very well with Tupperware, CopperCraft, Gram of Gold and Totally Tropical. She received numerous awards for achieving high sales.  These part time jobs were in addition to her full-time office jobs with Co-op Implements and Palliser Furniture.  She earned a reputation for going above and beyond when serving her customers. Trudy and Peter retired in the mid nineties and opened their home as a Bed and Breakfast and the guests brought a lot of joy and adventure to their lives.

In 1997, Trudy was diagnosed with Lymphoma and underwent a course of chemotherapy. While that was a very difficult time for her, she enjoyed the healing powers provided by holding her first grandchild.

In 2002, they moved to Calgary, AB, and Trudy continued her customer service journey working as a cashier at Cash Casino, Sales Rep with Kitchen & Bath Classics, cashier at Winners, Value Village, Mrs. Greens, Planet Organic and five months at Country Grocer on Salt Spring Island. Of all the jobs that Trudy performed over her 50 years of working she enjoyed her role as a food demonstrator at Planet Organic the most. She greatly enjoyed the creative side of the role by choosing how to demo the food that the manager designated needed to be promoted. She would create interesting combinations of foods to highlight the product often selling more than the designated product. She loved speaking to people and promoting the benefits of the product. She was also asked to conduct cooking lessons for the customers of Planet Organic and received complements for her presentations as well as recipes.

Most people who knew Trudy would not know that from early childhood she suffered from a lack of confidence. To overcome this, she started and was a member of a charter group of Toastmasters while she was at Co-op Implements and went on to achieve senior levels of competence in public speaking.

One of her greatest pleasures was travelling. In the early days, travelling included driving to the west coast, or through the USA. Later it was larger trips, like the South American trip covering six countries in four weeks and thirteen flights with their two children. Peter and Trudy then discovered cruising and it is estimated that Trudy went on more than 25 cruises, primarily in the Caribbean, the largest was to Australia and Fiji. In July 2023, Trudy went on a solo trip to Alaska, a remarkable achievement given she had just suffered a stroke eight months prior. Trudy traveled with Peter to Thailand, Europe, Australia, Bali, Singapore, Panama and more than ten long stays in Costa Rica, one lasting five months. All along the way, she made new friends that remained in contact over the years.

More than anything Trudy loved to find a deal! Her favourite hangouts in the last couple years have been Goodwill and Value Village. It didn’t take long to find a friend to go with her on these treasure hunts.

Trudy was part of the social committee in her condo building, heading up the Craft and Bake sale and annual Garage sale. She greatly enjoyed playing canasta with her friends in the condo.

Trudy had a compelling, outgoing, gentle, and generous soul that attracted so many people. Her sense of adventure was obvious, and people were naturally drawn to her.

Trudy is survived by her two children, Corina Alexander (Andy Tremorin), and Rodger (Rod) Martens (Johanna Stiver); and her three grandchildren, Andrew Alexander, Harlo Martens, and Laura Martens.

A Memorial Open House will be held at the Silhouette Condo Building #52 Amenities Room (52 Cranfield Link SE, Calgary, AB) on November 12, 2023, from 2:00 – 6:00 PM.

We will be celebrating the things that Trudy loved.  Entertaining friends, having some nibbles, drinking wine, and playing canasta.  Since Trudy missed the 2022 Craft and Bake Sale because she had a stroke four days before and she will be missing the 2023 Craft and Bake Sale, we will also be having a mini craft and bake sale with all donations going to Libin Women’s Cardiovascular Health Research Initiative Fund (University of Calgary).

Wear some sparkle and bling in her honour and come play a hand of canasta while you share your stories and pictures.

In living memory of Trudy Martens, a tree will be planted in the Ann & Sandy Cross Conservation Area by McInnis & Holloway Funeral Homes, Deerfoot South, 12281 – 40th Street SE, Calgary, AB T2Z 4E6, Telephone: 403-203-0525.