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MURPHY, Elsie Mary
April 29, 1947 — November 18, 2024
On November 18, 2024, Elsie Mary Murphy passed away in the warmth of her home in West Kelowna, BC. She is survived by her devoted husband Norman Wolstenholme; daughter Andrea (Steve) Nikas; son Kevin Murphy; stepsons Paul Wolstenholme (Mieke Koehoorn) and Steve Wolstenholme; and grandchildren Aric and Jordan Wolstenholme; also by Missy, the cat, who Elsie loved dearly. Elsie was predeceased by her first husband, Ross Sherman Murphy.
Elsie was born on April 29, 1947, in a little log home in Bonnyville, Alberta; delivered by her dad, while her brother Mike and sister Fran looked on – wide-eyed. She made a lot of noise… her big announcement! Raised in Gurneyville, AB as one of nine siblings, she learned early the value of sharing, resilience, resourcefulness, and the meaning of family.
At 19, she packed up and moved to Vancouver, where she built a career with a sharp mind. She worked as a real estate paralegal and later as the manager of mortgage administration, carving a path through a world of Law and Finance, where details mattered and precision was paramount.
But Elsie wasn’t just her work. She curled, played tennis, and enjoyed her fitness classes. She raised her children with the same energy, standing rink-side, field-side, courtside, always present, and always cheering. Later, she dabbled in pickleball, because why not? She never stopped moving, never stopped learning.
At 60, she hiked Machu Picchu. Years later, she and Norm cruised through the Panama Canal, marking yet another chapter of adventure, always with friends, always with laughter.
Elsie’s home was warm and welcome. Guests always had food in their belly, a drink in their hand, great conversation and somewhere to sit. She listened deeply, advised wisely and provided unconditional support and encouragement. She was a confidante to many. She remembered every birthday, every anniversary, every milestone, sending cards, making calls, ensuring no one felt forgotten.
Elsie had an uncanny ability to source exactly what you needed – whether it was a deal on Castanet, a find from a thrift shop, or a solution to a problem you hadn’t even voiced yet. If you needed it, Elsie would find it, package it, and probably drop it off at your door.
She was giving. She was funny. She was thoughtful in a way that couldn’t be taught.
We’ll raise a glass, have a few, share a laugh, and celebrate her the way she would have wanted – by being together.
Because if Elsie taught us anything, it’s that love isn’t in the grand gestures, but in the everyday acts of kindness, the perfectly timed phone calls, the quiet presence that says, “I am here for you.” And she always was.
A private Celebration of Life will be held
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April 29 1947 — November 18 2024
Death notice for the town of: Kelowna, Province: Colombie britanique
death notice MURPHY Elsie Mary April 29 1947 — November 18 2024
obituaries notice MURPHY Elsie Mary April 29 1947 — November 18 2024
We offer our deepest sympathies to the family and friends of MURPHY Elsie Mary April 29 1947 — November 18 2024 and hope that their memory may be a source of comfort during this difficult time. Your thoughts and kind words are greatly appreciated.
