Gertrude Anne "Trudy" Cliche

Gertrude A. Cliche, 84, of Estero, FL, passed away on Friday, August 3, 2018. She has been a Florida resident since 1956 and an Estero resident since 2016. She was born on July 8, 1934 in Lancaster, NH, the daughter of Rita (nee Newell) and Philip E. Beaton. Gertrude, otherwise known as Trudy, met her husband, Bill (passed on March 11, 2017) on a blind date in 1952, fell in love at first sight and was married February 12, 1953. Trudy contracted polio when she was 8 years old and has worn a brace and a lift on her shoe for her entire life. Her husband, Bill, was legally blind since birth. Together they decided they would move to Florida to start a new life for themselves. Trudy took a position as a bookkeeper for PJ Noyse, a pharmaceutical department. Eventually, she began working with her legally blind husband, Bill, where together they ran cafeterias for the Division of the Blind Services. Their first cafeteria being in the Jackson Memorial Hospital, which they ran for approximately 25 years together and then at the Broward County Courthouse for approximately 5 years where they finished out their careers and retired in 1989. Trudy and her husband moved to Delray Beach, FL in 1994 to be closer in proximity to their youngest daughter, Linda and in September of 2016, Linda and her husband, Jorge moved them into an assisted living facility in Estero, FL where Linda and Jorge now live. Trudy spent most of her life taking care of her husband, who was legally blind his entire life. When she could, she enjoyed knitting, bowling, reading romance novels and Wii bowling. She also enjoyed listening to her husband’s collection of cd’s with him which consisted of anything from the oldies to country to classical music. Mrs. Cliche is survived by her children, Karen (Allan) Vollmer of Las Vegas, NV, David (Leslie) Cliche of Winters, CA, Thomas (Malinda) Cliche of Vacaville, CA and Linda (Jorge) Toledo of Bonita Springs, FL; her brother Doug Beaton of Lancaster, NH, her sister Barbara Donovan in Florida and her sister Charlotte LaCasse of Mt. Sterling, KY; 11 grandchildren, 7 great grandchildren and 1 on the way. A graveside service will be held on Wednesday, August 8, 2018 at 11:30 AM at Our Lady Queen of Peace Cemetery, 10941 Southern Blvd., Royal Palm Beach, FL 33411. She will be laid to rest beside her husband. Arrangements are being handled by Shikany’s Bonita Funeral Home.

Gertrude Anne "Trudy" Cliche

July 8, 1934 - August 3, 2018