Gertrude M.A. (Longchamps) Houle

Gertrude M.A. “Trudy” (Longchamps) Houle of Weymouth, passed away peacefully on February 5th, 2014 at The Colonial Rehabilitation and Nursing Center in Weymouth, Massachusetts. She was 89. 

Trudy was born on May 22nd, 1924 in Fall River, Massachusetts, a daughter of the late Paul Hyppolite Longchamps and Annette (Boileau) Longchamps.  Entering elementary school, she only spoke the language of her parents, French.  She graduated from Weymouth High School, class of 1942. On July 9th, 1945 she was the 8,000th  Navy Wave to be sworn in at the First Naval District headquarters in Boston, Massachusetts.  Trudy’s ceremonial picture was taken by the Quincy Patriot Ledger.  Apprentice Seaman Longchamps received her “boot” training at Hunter College, N.Y.

After her discharge, she attended the Boston School of Accounting.  Trudy was married at St. Jerome’s Church to Raymond Houle and remained in Weymouth, where she raised and loved her daughter, Joanne. 

Trudy loved to play cards.  Cribbage and poker were her game of choice.  She belonged to the Southern Artery Cribbage and Poker Clubs, as well as the River Bay Cribbage Club, but her favorite game was cribbage with her grandson, Dean.

Trudy was also an avid Boston Red Sox fan, often staying up late for those west coast night games. 

Trudy was a caring person, who opened her home to anyone who needed a welcoming place to stay. 

She was recognized by the Commonwealth of Massachusetts for her outstanding achievement in the field of foster care for the mentally challenged; and later for dedicated service in the care and rehabilitation of WWI veterans through the Community Placement Program of the Veterans Administration.

Beloved mother of Joanne Cleary and her husband Marc of Braintree.  Cherished grandmother, Memere of David and Dean Cleary.  Sister of Irene Dunn of East Sandwich, Paul Longchamps of East Lyme, Connecticut, and the late Joseph “Ernie” Longchamps, Ronald Longchamps, Louise Gibbons, and,  Leigh “Annette” Clarke.

Relatives and friends are respectfully invited to attend Trudy’s visiting hours on Thursday from  4-8 p.m. in the McDonald Keohane Funeral Home, 809 Main St., South Weymouth.  (Rte 18 opposite South Shore Hospital).  A celebration of life service will be held in the funeral home at 8:30 a.m. on Friday prior to the Funeral Mass in Sacred Heart Church, Weymouth Landing at 9:30 a.m.  Burial will follow in Blue Hill Cemetery, Braintree.

In lieu of flowers, donations in Trudy’s  memory may be made to the  Massachusetts Humane Society, Inc 87 Wharf Street, P.O. Box 890127, East Weymouth, Massachusetts, 02189