Meet Your Neighbor

Read more about your neighbors featured in the latest issue of the Minerva Park Community Association Newsletter

Meet Marie Trudeau! Marie’s daughter and her family moved to Park Lane Drive in 2014, and Marie joined them in May of 2022. A Columbus native, she raised her own family in North Linden. Once her three children were grown, she moved to the Brewery District with her husband, Randy. They enjoyed many years there, walking to her office and exploring the city.

Marie began her career in insurance by joining her father’s company and went on to build a successful career at W.E. Davis Insurance Agency. When the Affordable Care Act was enacted, she took pride in thoroughly understanding the law and helping others learn how to maximize its benefits. She was also active in the German Village Business Community and served on her Brewery District HOA.

As the pandemic unfolded, Marie began thinking seriously about retirement. Her husband had passed a few years earlier, and she spent more time with family and in Minerva Park. She helped care for her granddaughters during school closures & after an extended stay, everyone decided she should move in!  

In retirement, Marie missed connecting with others and began getting involved in the community. She joined the Minerva Park Book Club and attends local events with her family. She stays active through the SilverSneakers program at Lifetime Fitness, which her granddaughters also enjoy—especially the pool and summer camps!

Summers are especially meaningful for Marie, who has attended Camp Wyandot since childhood—her grandparents helped build the camp! After many years of volunteering, she recently earned her lifeguard certification and is now working as a lifeguard at the camp this summer.

Marie also loves traveling—it allows her to keep learning, exploring, and meeting new people. Highlights include seeing the Northern Lights with Randy, a three-week train trip across Canada, an arctic plunge in Iceland, and a riverboat tour of the Amazon! Next up: London and Paris with her granddaughter on a school trip next summer!

Fun facts: 

• Marie has taken some amazing trips through the National Geographic Expeditions program, including one to Iceland last year. With a small group, she witnessed volcanic activity up close and even took an arctic plunge! Media often joins these trips to write reviews, and Marie was interviewed and featured in a USA Today article about solo travel.

• In February, she traveled to South America for a riverboat cruise on the Amazon River. After landing in Peru and flying inland with another solo traveler, the two women discovered they were both from Ohio and would be on the same adventure. They quickly became friends and have stayed in touch ever since.

• Before a recent trip to New York City through the AARP Road Scholar program, Marie mentioned at the Minerva Park Book Club that she needed a roommate. A neighbor and friend thought about it and decided to join her! They had a fantastic time seeing Broadway shows and exploring the city together.

• After Randy passed away, Marie embraced solo travel by booking a three-week train trip across Canada—from Quebec to Vancouver. Along the way, she experienced the kindness of strangers and ended her journey visiting her two brothers in the Seattle/Portland area. She felt Randy’s presence throughout the trip and knew he was watching over her. It was a deeply meaningful, once-in-a-lifetime experience—and one that inspired many more. Marie has since taken several unforgettable adventures and is excited for the many still to come!

If you or a neighbor would like to be featured in an upcoming Meet Your Neighbor article, please email ErinCaseyOxender@gmail.com.