Gertrude Petronela Byron

She had many nicknames, including Gertie, Lady, Pete, Petrushka, and Tushi. She never liked the name Gertrude and for the last half of her life preferred to be called Trude (pronounced Trudi).

Trude was born a Christmas baby in 1922 in Grand Rapids, Michigan to Paul and Veronica (Jablonska) Wondolowski who were born in Poland. Sadly, she outlived all of her siblings: Pauline Gonzales (with whom she was particularly close), Florence Wiggers, Lottie Radlinski, Wanda Cook, Veronica Wondolowski, and brothers Joe, John, and Stan. She stayed in touch with her surviving sister-in-law, Frances Wondolowski, Fran’s daughter Suzanne Fisher, and her niece Patricia Weller.

After a short move to Washington, D.C., Trude moved to California in 1947. She lived in the Los Angeles area and her sister, Pauline, joined her. They particularly liked rooming at Ms. Butler and Ms. MacGregor’s home. Trude met her husband, Al P. Byron, at an ice-skating rink in Pasadena. After a Santa Barbara marriage, they moved to many towns, including Santa Rosa, Palo Alto, Redwood City, Ontario, and Pomona. Pasadena, which she loved, became the family’s home for 10 years. In the summer of 1969, she moved to San Mateo where she spent the rest of her life.

Trude had three daughters who adored her: Barbara Ann (Huebel) Lawton, Phyllis Jan Cosgriff, and Michelle Marie Byron. Devastating for Trude, Barbara died in 2005 and Phyllis died in October, precipitating Trude’s leaving her surviving daughter and housemate, Michelle.

Trude worked for over 20 years for the State of California, first for the Department of Fish and Game in Menlo Park and later for the Department of Justice Law Library in San Francisco. She supervised the Law Library on her own after the 1989 earthquake and received a certificate of recognition from the Attorney General.

Trude was an energetic and vibrant person. She was young at heart and youthful in appearance. She enjoyed art (and would not throw her art diaries away!). She had a special liking for ballet pictures and figurines. She was an avid reader and had books and magazines such as Harper’s cluttering up her bedroom shelves and floor. Trude also enjoyed watching a variety of TV programs in the evening with Michelle. She loved reading the newspaper every day and couldn’t wait to open them when Michelle would bring them home to her. She always wanted to watch the news on TV even if she listened to NPR much of the day. Trude loved politics and always voted, influencing Phyllis and Michelle’s mutual interest and excellent voting records.

One cannot describe Trude without mentioning her love of simple pleasures. She didn’t over-indulge, but she loved food. Trude especially liked pizza; she would eat an organic Trader Joe’s pizza every day if she could. She also delighted in sweets. She liked to shop, and when it got too tiring, she shopped via catalogs for fun, though rarely made purchases. Trude liked shoes and purses because she had so few as a child. She liked little dollies, like Madeline, and had many in her bedroom.

Trude loved little children and they loved her. Dogs were Trude’s greatest simple pleasure and they knew it. Barney was lucky to have such a generous lady who let him sit on her for hours. Occasional visitor Maggie adored Trude knowing that Trude loved her. Trude became child-like and sometimes gleeful in the presence of her four-legged friends.

People liked Trude because she was very easy to like. She guided and supported others and changed their lives for the better. She had an easy sense of humor and would laugh or smile at the subtlest sources of humor. She always kept her clear, high, sweet voice. She had a sweet and gentle demeanor and beautiful smile which stayed with her throughout her life. Both her demeanor and her smile were commented upon by many.

Trude’s shining life will be missed by her close friends, including Daisy Ho, Betsy Shafer, Howard Pearlstein, and Barney and Maggie. She also will be missed by many acquaintances, such as her gym friend, Howie, whom she talked with, laughed with, encouraged, and inspired.

Trude appreciated the decades of competent and caring care by Dr. David Jacoby.

Her daughter, Michelle, who lived with her for Michelle’s entire life, has not only lost her mother, but has lost her teacher, best friend, and constant companion, and she is not anticipating even a near replacement.