Gertrude (Trudy) Mertens Goff died on August 7, surrounded by family at her longtime home on School street in Edgartown. She was 93.

She was born to Robert and Gertrude Mertens on July 18, 1928 and grew up in Locust, N.J. with her two younger sisters, Ellen Brown and Jennifer Brock, and hordes of cousins. Her life was full of Huber volleyball, trying to ride farm animals, charades, Christmases with Grossmummy, and “never-ending” bike rides in Vermont.

She attended Rumson Country Day School, The Ethel Walker School, Bradford Junior College and Katherine Gibbs Secretarial School. Trudy loved everything about school except math, science, English and history. She earned high marks in sports, friends and fun.

She married Allston Stone Goff Jr. on June 21, 1952, and they had four children in the following six years. After short stays in Vermont and Grenoble, France, the family settled in Houston, Tex., where Skip taught at St. John’s School.

Summers were spent on Martha’s Vineyard with the Brock cousins, followed by a trip to Woodstock, Vt., with Mum and Big Bobby Mertens. In 1972, after Skip’s death, Trudy moved to Edgartown as a year-round resident.

She worked hard as a committed volunteer at Texas Children’s Hospital and the Martha’s Vineyard Hospital. She was often seen striding around town, working in the garden or relaxing with needlepoint. Her children and grandchildren gave her the greatest joy and were unquestionably her greatest commitment. She loved them all enormously, generously, unconditionally and tirelessly.

She will be truly missed by her children, Jennifer Goodspeed of Cumberland Foreside, Me., Catherine Fitch of Dover, Lisa Pajolek of Osterville and Robert Goff of Edgartown. She is also survived by 16 grandchildren and 15 great-grandchildren.

A celebration of her life is planned for December at St. Andrew’s Church in Edgartown.