Murphy (Irwin), Kathleen Ellen – Age 72 years. It is with great sadness that we announce the loss of our mother, wife, nana, sis, aunt and friend. Born and brought up in South Woodside, she was a daughter of the late Frederick Earl Irwin and Irene Helen Feetham.
Kathleen was a CNA for 20-plus years. Her career started after graduating with her diploma from D.R.V.S. where she met her best friend Edith McPherson, who was living in the nurses’ residence and homesick for Glace Bay, so Kathy being who she was, brought her home and she never left. Kathy then worked at DGH, VGH (Neuro), TOMH as well as travelling to British Columbia with her best friend Sandy Hamm to work at the Royal Victoria Hospital.
Kathy met her husband Philip Murphy of 37 years during his clinical at DGH for his CNA program. They were married on August 24, 1982 and moved to West Chezzetcook in Philip's homestead and continued on to have their two "darling" children, Jonathan (Jennifer) Murphy and Belinda (Cody) Murphy. Mom was the most amazing mother we could have ever asked for. She partook in the PTAs, signed us up for anything we wanted to do and always volunteered for anything and everything she could help out with. Then in 2011 Kathy became a grandmother to her very special grandson, Kristian Murphy, he was her pride and joy and she practically raised him while her daughter was in nursing school. She was then blessed with three more grandsons starting in 2017 with Frederick Murphy, then in 2018 with Abel Murphy-Smith, and in 2019 with Samuel Murphy. Kathy loved her grandsons more than life itself and you could always find a big smile on her face when any of them were around.
Kathleen was predeceased by her best friend and sister, Jean Irwin; best friend, Edith McPherson; granddaughter, Isabelle Murphy-Smith; nephew, Jason Murphy; and sister-in-law, Dorothy Irwin. Kathy is survived by brother, Earl Irwin; special cousins/sisters, Ann, Bun, Pat, Joan and Clyde; special family member, Reta Manuel; her special girl, Lexie Myers; best friend, Evelyn Fitzgerald; lifelong friend, Brenda Braganca; as well as many brothers and sisters-in-law; many nieces, nephews, church friends and community friends.
The funeral will be held Friday, March 13th at 11 a.m. in St. John the Cross in East Chezzetcook followed by a reception in St. Anselm's Church Hall in West Chezzetcook. The family asks to please refrain from wearing scents to the funeral. Burial will be at a later date. Donations may be made to Heart and Stroke Foundation in memory of Kathleen.
The family would like to thank all the staff at TOMH, DGH and the D2 VON nurses who took such excellent care of our mom.
Arrangements are under the direction of Arimathea Funeral Cooperative, Upper Musquodoboit.
