LYNN — Gertraude “Trudy” (Piesker) Hill, age 72, of Lynn, died Thursday, Feb. 16, 2017, at a local nursing home, following a lengthy illness. She was the wife of David G. Hill, and the daughter of the late Rudolf and Liesel (Herzog) Piesker. Born in Cottbus, East Germany, Trudy was raised in Homberg, Efze, West Germany. She was educated in early childhood education and nursing in Frankford and Fritzlar, Germany. She worked as a faculty assistant for Harvard Business School for many years and as a soloist and choir director at Holy Family Church in Lynn for 16 years as well as St. Thomas Aquinas Church in Nahant from 1994-2012. Trudy loved music and singing. She was philanthropic and generous to charities. Also Trudy Hill was well known in the North Shore and Greater Boston musical community. Ms. Hill began her musical career in Germany where she performed in operas and oratorios. Her most beloved musical experience was with the Paul Madore Chorale as a soprano Soloist,
She was coached by Allan Rogers and Paul Madore in her subsequent years. She teamed up with her best friend, Mary Pelletier, to arrange the Summer Singing, giving local artists a chance to be known in the musical community and to create an awareness to the continuance of the Performing Arts. As part of her musical experience she teamed up with Maria Dè Stefano, the ultimate alto, and a life-long team they formed. Don Wilkerson, whose voice Trudy loved, was her musical partner for many years and a lifelong friendship developed.
The Northshore Philharmonic, Symphony by the Sea, Cape Ann Chamber Orchestra, the Brookline Symphony, the Melrose Symphony, the Arlington Belmont Chorale, the Bedford Chorale and the Concert Singers of Greater Lynn all gave richness to her musical life. It was at the core of her existence with her husband David, she enjoyed extensive traveling.
Besides her loving husband David of almost 30 years, she is survived by her four children Caroline Hill of Biddeford, Maine, Julie Hope and her husband Zachary of Lynn, Daniel Hill and his partner Jennifer Swafford of Lynn and Ryan Hill of Lynn, her three grandchildren, Kelsey Kamerick, Christina Hope and Nathan Hill, and her sister Anneliese Collins of Newport News, Va. She also leaves her two nieces Vicky and Karen Collins, her brother-in-law David Butler and his wife Miriam of Boxford, her sister-in-law Joan Hutchinson and her husband Jeff of Middletown, N.Y. and a dear, longtime friend, Mary Pelletier of Salem. Another dear friend was June Robinson, a member of Our Lady of the Assumption Choir, who was a spiritual supporter as well as a musical partner. She was preceded in death by her brother-in-law Charles Collins.
Service information: Her funeral will be held on Wednesday, Feb. 22, 2017, from the SOLIMINE Funeral Home, 426 Broadway (Rt. 129) Lynn at 9 a.m., followed by a funeral Mass at Our Lady of the Assumption Church, Lynnfield at 10 a.m. Interment will be in St. Joseph’s Cemetery, Lynn. Relatives and friends are respectfully invited. Visiting hours will be Tuesday from 4-8 p.m. In lieu of flowers, memorial donations may be made to the Alzheimer’s Association, 480 Pleasant St., Watertown, MA 02472. Directions and guestbook at Solimine.com.