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MURPHY, Opal
Surrounded by her loving family, Opal Irene Murphy (née Robinson) passed away peacefully on July1, 2023, two months shy of her 100th birthday.
Opal was born on September 18, 1923, on the family farm in Bridgenorth, Ontario, to William and Harriet Robinson. She was one of six children, five of whom were born on the farm.
After high school, she attended the Peterborough Business College, and found employment at Outboard Marine in the office where she met her future husband, Walter (William) Murphy. They were married in 1946 after Walter returned home from the Second World War.
After raising three children, she returned to the work force, working for a number of years at Brinton Carpets in the payroll department. When Brinton closed, she went to work as the office manager at the constituency office of John Turner, Conservative MPP for Peterborough, and eventual Speaker of the House. She enjoyed helping the constituents solve their problems, and providing them with the information they needed. She received many kudos for her work, but decided to retire when Mr. Turner left political office, Such was her expertise in the role, that the next MPP, a Liberal, asked her to run his office for him, but she decided to retire at that time.
Opal was a great mother to her children and their children, reveling in the role of grandmother to her growing family. She and Walter were long-standing members of the St. James United Church in Peterborough. Mom enjoyed supporting Dad in his many long fundraising campaigns for the United Way, the Peterborough Disaster Relief Fund, and the Civic Hospital Foundation.
She was also a very capable seamstress, typist, cook, Hospital Volunteer, cookie baker, pie crust roller, gardener, and general Miss Fixit around the house, even re-wiring our toaster when it failed.
Opal was predeceased by her beloved husband Walter, oldest daughter Irene Lawson (late Steve), and her siblings Ina Dyer (late Reverend Canon Walter Dyer), Don Robinson (late Isabel), Howard Robinson (late Beulah), June Kerr (late Bill), and Ken Robinson and by her in-laws, Ellen and Gordon Bradfield, Andy and Elda Murphy, Sam and Nancy Murphy, and James and Dorothy Murphy.
She is survived by her son Bill Murphy (Jean), daughter Anne, grandson Greg Lawson (Karen), granddaughter Amber Anderson (Travis), grandson Brendan Murphy (Erin), granddaughter Seanna (Robin Shimaoka), grandsons Tyler Coulby, Shane Coulby (Caitlin), Jordan Coulby (LIndsay). She was a devoted great grandmother to Logan Anderson, Nate Lawson, Iris and Ronan Murphy, Remi and Declan Shimaoka, and Madden and Jace Coulby.
A visitation for Opal will be held on July 8, 2023 at 1 PM at St. James United Church Peterborough, with service to follow at 2 PM. A light lunch will be provided after the service. A private family Internment will already have taken place at the Robinson Family plot at Bridgenorth Cemetery.
In lieu of flowers donations to Sick Kids Hospital or St. James United Church would be appreciated.
The live stream link for the service: www.twitch.tv/stjamesunited
Saturday July 1st 2023
Death notice for the town of: Peterborough, Province: Ontario
death notice Opal Irene Murphy Robinson Saturday July 1st 2023
obituaries notice Opal Irene Murphy Robinson Saturday July 1st 2023
We offer our deepest sympathies to the family and friends of Opal Irene Murphy Robinson Saturday July 1st 2023 and hope that their memory may be a source of comfort during this difficult time. Your thoughts and kind words are greatly appreciated.
