Trudy Ann Lang-Flumerfelt

LANG-FLUMERFELT, Trudy Ann (nee Piekarski)

What joy to heaven Trudy brings, her music flows round angels’ wings.

Trudy passed away suddenly, fortunately surrounded by her loving daughter, husband and daughter’s partner.  Trudy was born in Sudbury, on the 9th of June, 1950, and was in her 76th year.  She is survived by and was the beloved wife of George Flumerfelt and the most loving Mother to Jillian Lang (Russell Watson).  She is also survived by her siblings, John Piekarski (Colleen), Stephen Piekarski (Debbie), Stanley Piekarski (Valerie), Katherine Lyttle (Robert), and Joseph Piekarski (Judy).  Trudy has been reunited in heaven with her pre-deceased daughter, Kristin Teresa, and her parents, Francizek (Frank) Piekarski and Teresa Agnes Piekarski (Aultman).  Throughout Trudy’s life, she filled many, many lives with music, kindness, compassion, and was selfless in her actions.   Trudy, the oldest of six children, grew up in Powassan, where her parents moved a couple of years after Trudy was born.  At the age of four, Trudy’s father brought home an upright piano and enrolled her in lessons.  Trudy achieved completion of her grade 8 piano, the highest level to attain.  At that time, who knew music would become a guiding force, leading Trudy through her teaching career, educating students, changing lives, and bringing joy to all those who heard her play.  For those who have seen and heard Trudy play, they know she could play continuously for hours, without sheet music, all the while talking to anyone who would approach her – without missing a note!  She was a truly talented woman.  In high school, Trudy started to leave her creative and musical footprint.  She was in the Drama Cub, on the Dance Committee, Students’ Council, wrote for the school newspaper, and was a member of the Glee Club, starting as the pianist in grade 10, earning special recognition the following year, and in grade 12 she was named the Director.  She won Student of the Year in both grades 11 and 12. For years, Trudy was an active Girl Guide.  When she was 19, she was chosen to lead all Ontario Girl Guides to the Jamboree in Saskatchewan.  Having her group present a song and dance, her campsite won the privilege of hosting Lady Baden Powell (the founder of Girl Guides). Trudy was so clever, practical and creative in her solutions, she would be asked, “Do you have a girl guide badge for that?”

Trudy then attended Teachers’ College and began her teaching career in 1971, as an itinerant music teacher for The East Parry Sound School Board, teaching full-time.  Several years later, Trudy left that position for a teaching position with the Nipissing Board of Education (now The Near North District School Board) in North Bay.  She taught at Tweedsmuir Public School and at E.T. Carmichael Public School, in North Bay, retiring after more than 30 years of teaching.  Trudy taught math, science, language arts, music, dance and drama.  Trudy also directed plays, musicals, choirs, and concerts.  She always strived to create the best experiences and opportunities for her students.  She creatively integrated the arts to facilitate learning, ensuring each student had the opportunity to learn using their strengths and to shine with their talents.  So much of her life, from the time she was in high school, was spent teaching, instructing and using the arts as a vessel for education.  The Near North School Board took notice of Trudy’s teaching practices and asked her to utilize the arts to teach part of the science curriculum.  The conclusion, what Trudy already knew, students of all abilities and levels performed equally and extremely well retaining and recalling the information.  Upon Trudy’s retirement, she conducted the Ministry of Education Arts Curriculum Review and developed exemplars for the Ministry of Education, integrating the arts into education.  She wrote the curriculum program for teaching through the arts.  She went into schools, workshopping with students and teachers and her curriculum was used throughout the School Board.  Trudy loved it when she ran into a former student and they would share how they were doing and what they were up to.  It brought her such joy.  Trudy’s care for children translated all over the world.  She was in South Africa and visited a school there, leading the children in song and dance, nothing like they had experienced before. 

Trudy began playing the piano for The Rotary Club of North Bay’s meetings in 2010, was named an honorary Rotarian in 2013, and in 2014 was proudly inducted as a member of The Rotary Club of North Bay.  She spent 15 and a half years playing the piano, creating songs and sing-a-longs, leading the club in choreography, and creating their interactive Christmas program and games.  The Rotary Club motto is “Service Above Self”, which encapsulated who Trudy was.  Trudy believed “children are our future and we need to provide them with opportunities to be successful.  Enhancing the needs of children is not only rewarding but provides them with the tools they need for their success and with opportunities to be proud of their endeavors.” – Trudy, 2024.  The Rotary Club aids children in the local community, as well as their families.  Yearly, Trudy was very active in the Rotary4Kids campaigns.

One of Trudy’s greatest memories was playing the piano accordion with her father, who played an old “squeeze box”.  The two entertained at family gatherings and for pure enjoyment.  The polka was always a beloved activity at the Piekarski house.  Trudy could not pass by a piano without playing it, whether this was at a hotel, hospital, restaurant, cruise ship, or on the street, etc., anywhere around the world.  She is the only person to have played Elvis’ piano, in Nashville at Studio B, other than Elvis.  This piano was not to be touched, but she was given special permission.  She played “How Great Though Art” on the anniversary of Elvis’ releasing of the song.  Doing such an outstanding job, she was asked to come back and play every day for the tours that would go through.  Trudy shared her talent volunteering as a church organist and taught piano lessons.  Trudy spent 19 years playing the piano at Churchill’s in North Bay.  She’s played for numerous events and functions throughout the years and has played for a former Prime Minister, Premier of Ontario, Governor General, James Brolin, and after playing for the Burton Cummings Band was asked if she’d like to go on tour with them.  Trudy was playing music on her keyboard, entertaining family, right up into the evening before she passed away. 

Trudy loved to travel, and in her later years she was able to do a lot of it!  Traveling around the world with her husband and daughter, experiencing different cultures was truly a joy for Trudy.  She also loved visiting her daughter in Mexico, and then later in Toronto, when her daughter moved back to Ontario.  The two of them together could make any regular activity into an adventure.  Trudy was an ardent fan of sports, whether it was the Olympics/Paralympics, Stanley Cup Playoffs, The North Bay Battalion, The Toronto Blue Jays, or the Masters, she always cheered heartily and passionately.

Trudy was the light in every room.  With an electric energy and graceful presence, she cared deeply, was generous and patient and would move the mountains and the stars for those she loved.  Being a woman of faith, Trudy prayed for her loved ones daily.  She was so very proud of her parents, her siblings, her husband, and her daughter.  She had the ability to bring out the very best in anyone she knew.  She taught warmly and passionately and changed many students’ lives and the lives of others whom she encountered.  

“I did what I had to do

And saw it through without exemption

I planned each chartered course

Each careful step along the byway

And more, much more than this, I did it my way” – Paul Anka

Visitation will be held at the Hillside Funeral Home in North Bay, Friday, June 12th from 2:00pm to 5:00pm and 7:00pm to 9:00pm with Vigil Prayers at 8:45pm.  Funeral Mass will be celebrated by Fr. Larry Rymes on Saturday, June 13th, at 11:00am at The Pro-Cathedral of The Assumption, North Bay.  In lieu of flowers, donations in memory of Trudy may be made to the Rotary Club of North Bay. Through initiatives such as Rotary4Kids, school nutrition programs, youth support services, community accessibility projects, health care initiatives, music and educational programming, and many other local charitable efforts, the Rotary Club of North Bay has long been committed to improving the lives of people throughout our community.

The family and the Rotary Club of North Bay would be deeply grateful for any donation made in Trudy’s memory. The club will ensure these funds are used in a thoughtful and meaningful way that truly reflects Trudy’s legacy, her love for children and music, her compassionate spirit, and her lifelong commitment to helping others in our community.

CanadaHelps – Rotary Club of North Bay, In Memory of Trudy Lang-Flumerfelt Fund

Interac e-Transfer - nbrotary1@gmail.com

Message box: Donation in Memory of Trudy, along with your mailing and email address.

Cheque - Payable to Rotary Club of North Bay, 1145 Cassells Street, North Bay ON P1B 4B4.

Memo line: Donation in Memory of Trudy.