Madonna Ann Murphy
September 23, 1949 – May 11, 2019
Passed suddenly away at the Bonaventure Retirement Home in St. John’s on Saturday, May 11, 2019, Madonna Ann Murphy, aged 69 years.
Madonna was born in the family home at 649 Southside Road to Rita and Thomas Murphy (deceased) – the 7th of the 13 children. She is further predeceased by her brother Roger; her brother-in-law Gerry Everard and her former husband Paul Brophy. Her bereaved loved ones include her daughter Kira-Ni; sisters Frances, Peggy and Yvonne; sister-in-law June; brothers Pat (Mary), Cyril (Hilda), Basil (Claudine), Tony (Zay), Philip (Karen), Ron, and Danny (Theresa); 16 nephews and nieces, especially her god-daughters Rita Everard and Sandy Murphy; numerous grand-nephews, nieces, and large numbers of friends, both in St. John’s and Marystown, with special inclusion of Anne Coady, Debbie Downey, and Sandra Gillingham.
Madonna was a woman of admirable qualities, but above all else she was a devoted mother. In 1998 she traveled to the People’s Republic of China to adopt her daughter Kira-Ni, who would become the joy and focus of her life. She raised her daughter in Marystown where, after motherhood, she practiced her other love – teaching. Madonna taught for 30 years at Sacred Heart Primary School, influencing generations of her young students. Her teaching and academic credentials included both a B.A. and a B.Ed. from Memorial University. However, her true success in all of her passions came from her heart, her sense of humour, her determination, and her ability to care for others. On this Mother’s Day weekend, we are comforted in the fact that she is reunited with her own mother.
The Murphy family extend sincerest gratitude to the staff and residents of the Bonaventure Retirement Home, to Andy at Home Hardware in Marystown, to Caul’s Funeral Home staff, Father Cecil Critch, and the parish of Corpus Christi Church.
Resting at Caul’s Funeral Home, LeMarchant Road. Visitation on Monday from 6 p.m. – 9 p.m. and Tuesday from 2 p.m. – 9p.m. Funeral Mass will take place on Wednesday, May 15, 2019 at 9:30 a.m. from Corpus Christi Church. Cremation to follow. Flowers gratefully accepted.
“But we are apart in the grassy places, where care cannot trouble the least of our days – W. B. Yeats.”
Our most sincere sympathies to the family and friends of Madonna Ann Murphy 2019..
Death notice for the town of: Torbay, Province: T-N