Obituary of Joyce Murphy

Murphy (nee Jay), Mary Joyce, passed away suddenly on December 5th, 2020 at the age of 92 after suffering a severe stroke less than two weeks earlier. Joyce was born in PEI on August 16, 1928, the youngest girl of eight children. She grew up in the village of Morell in a busy house that also served as the local post office. After attending St. Dunstan’s University and the Charlottetown School of Nursing, she started her career in the early 50’s with the VON in Toronto and later as a nurse at St. Vincent’s hospital in Ottawa. Joyce always maintained wonderful and enduring friendships with her nursing colleagues and was known to her patients as their ‘favourite grey-haired nurse’. In 1953 Joyce married the love of her life Dunstan Murphy and together they celebrated 60 years of marriage. In 1961, they moved their young family to the Northwest Territories, living in Yellowknife and Fort Smith for over eight years before finally putting roots down in Ottawa. Their adventures in the land of the midnight sun and the warm memories from Downsview Crescent held a special place in her heart. She was a faithful member of St. Maurice Parish and the CWL for almost 50 years. For the last four years she lived at City View Retirement home where she built new friendships and keenly participated in many activities including Latin chair dancing, discussing the politics of the day or cheering on her Ottawa Senators. But nothing ever replaced the joy she felt returning home each summer to her beloved Prince Edward Island. Spending time with her family and friends at the cottage on “Beautiful Boughton Bay” are cherished memories for all who loved her. She is predeceased by her husband Dunstan Murphy, their son Donnie and by her siblings Genevieve, Ray, Sister Eunice, Giles, Mildred, Al, and Ken. She is survived by her sister-in-law Mary Jay, her children Sheila (Peter Sturrus), Michelle (Michael MacLellan), Colleen (Terry Saunders) and Patrick (Beth Stairs). She was a cherished grandma to Alanna, Ethan (Chantal), Gavin (Sarah), Teagan (Jay), Samantha (Mac), Matthew, Brayden (Nicole), Camryn and Hudson and great grandma to Brock, Brielle, Brenn, River and Lily. Special thanks to Dr. Keely Giles for her outstanding care, the dedicated staff at City View Retirement and the Neuro team at the Civic Hospital. A funeral mass will be held Friday December 11th, 2020 at 1:00 p.m. at St. Maurice Parish, 4 Perry Street, Ottawa. Due to COVID restrictions, registration is required at the main doors. It will also be live streamed on YouTube: https://youtu.be/6bR2DjrodZ8 In lieu of flowers, donations can be made to St. Vincent de Paul at https://www.imakeanonlinedonation.org/ssvp-national/IMD/