Obituary of Donald Joseph Murphy

At the age of 84, Don passed away on May 22, 2021, at St. Michael’s Hospital, Toronto, ON. 

Beloved husband of 58 years to Sharon (Smith) Murphy. Dear father of Donald (Kathryn Prud’homme) of Ottawa, ON and Graham (Jennifer Pym-Murphy) of Bowmanville, ON.  Loving Grampa to Declan Murphy.  Brother to Dr. Thomas Murphy (Dr. Glenda Goodine) of Houston, TX, Brother-In-Law to Warren Smith (Barbara Reardon) Halifax, NS, Sara Connor of Halifax, NS, and Uncle to several nieces and nephews.  Predeceased by parents Daniel and Christina Murphy, twin sister, Catherine Elizabeth “Betty” Flinn (Murphy) of Chester, NS,  Brothers-In-Law Robert “Bob” Flinn of Chester, NS and Randall Smith of Halifax, NS.

Graduated from St. Mary’s University and Dalhousie Law School in Halifax, NS.  Partner of the former law firm Daley, Black, Moreira and Piercey, Halifax, NS.  Former Counsel at Canadian Pacific Railway Law Department, Calgary, AB.  Spent 19 years as Senior Railway Counsel, Canadian Transport Commission, Ottawa, ON; and, until his retirement in 2004, was Senior Counsel with the Department of Justice, Ottawa, ON.  Don was a former member of the Law Society of Alberta, Life Member of the Nova Scotia Barristers Society, long-time parishioner of Holy Cross Parish and St. Theresa Church in Ottawa, ON, No. 375 member of the Fort Henry Guard Club of Canada Inc., and a Sigma Chi-Gamma Rho Chapter brother. He was elected and served for 21 years as a Trustee with the former Ottawa Roman Catholic Separate School Board and as Chair and Vice-Chair to this Board. 

Don and his wife, Sharon, moved to Bowmanville Creek Retirement Community in 2017 for health reasons and to be closer to their one and only grandchild, Declan.  Thank you to the staff at St. Michael’s Hospital for their professional and compassionate care; Health and Wellness at Bowmanville Creek Retirement Community and Dr. Wilraad Lottering who provided ongoing and comprehensive medical care to Don. 

Following cremation and due to Covid-19 restrictions, a private Funeral Mass for family will be held at Northcutt Elliott Funeral Home on Saturday, May 29, 2021 at 11:00 a.m. To view the service virtually, please follow the link below.  In the future, Don will be laid to rest at Gate of Heaven Cemetery, Lower Sackville, NS.

In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to Durham Region Hospice-Clarington, 1615 Dundas St. E, Lang Tower West, Suite #304, Whitby, ON, L1N 2L1; Hospice Care Ottawa (May Court Hospice), 114 Cameron Avenue, Ottawa, ON, K1S 0X1; Halifax Hospice, 618 Francklyn Street, Halifax, NS, B3H 3B4, or a charity of your choice.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3LXB01lfjCc