Obituary of Judy Pile

Gertrude (Judy) Pile (née Kruse) July 14, 1917 - March 6, 2009 Beloved wife for 53 years of the late Fred Pile. Fondly remembered by children, Alan (Pat), Kathryn (Gairey) Richardson and Stephen (Carol Crombie), and grandchildren Hazen Pile, Diamond Truong, Chantal, Tyler (Debi) and Dylan Wade and Christopher and Emily Pile. Judy was born and raised in Galt, Ontario, now part of Cambridge. Her parents Essie and Allan Kruse and sister Esther struggled with Judy's terror at being away from home, her fear of dust bunnies and her insatiable sweet tooth. During WWII, however, Judy made the terrifying trip to Toronto to find a job. On a blind date she met Fred, a dashing RAF pilot in Canada for training. Confounding all predictions, she married Fred in December 1943, shortly before Fred returned to England. Judy became a "war bride in reverse," following Fred in a wartime convoy during the Battle of the Atlantic. Her ship broke down in mid-Atlantic and was left behind by the convoy before being repaired and catching up. Nothing fazed her after that. When Fred was posted to India, she found a job with the British Council in Cardiff, Wales and learned how to satisfy her sweet tooth on rations. The couple returned to Guelph in 1949, where Judy took to the boards as a member of Guelph Little Theatre. After moving to Toronto in 1958, Judy worked as principal's secretary for the North York Board of Education until her retirement. She and Fred then opened their own travel business. Judy travelled the world, undaunted by camels and lost luggage alike. She still didn't like dust bunnies. Judy died peacefully on March 6, 2009 at Sunrise of Mississauga after a 10-year struggle with Alzheimer's disease. She was 91. She never lost her sense of humour, her love of adventure or her taste for ice cream. The family deeply appreciates the compassionate Sunrise staff, who always treated Judy like family. A celebration of Judy's life will be held for family and friends at ST. JAMES-THE-LESS CHAPEL, 635 Parliament Street (at Bloor Street) on Monday, March 30 at 3:30 p.m. followed by interment. Reception will be held at the HUMPHREY FUNERAL HOME - A.W. MILES CHAPEL, 1403 Bayview Avenue (south of Davisville Avenue) at 5 p.m. If desired, memorial donations may be made to the Alzheimer Society of Ontario, 20 Eglinton Ave. West, Suite 1600, Toronto M4R 1K8, www.alzheimerontario.org or to the Kidney Foundation, 15 Gervais Drive, Suite 700, Toronto M3C 1Y8, www.kidney.on.ca. Condolences and memories may be forwarded through www.humphreymiles.com.