KATHLEEN (KATE) CLAIRE MURPHY
May 28, 1949 - March 30, 2015
On the morning of March 30, 2015, Kate
passed away at Pinawa Hospital in Pinawa,
MB after a lengthy illness. Kate was 65
years old.
Kathleen Murphy was born in St. Boniface,
Manitoba on May 28, 1949. She was the
first child of Winnifred "Peggy" Florence
(nee Coyston) and Claude Howard Murphy.
Kathleen was an inquisitive, outgoing and
sociable little girl growing up in a world
of accelerating change after the Second
World War. Two sisters and a brother soon
followed and Kathy was the natural leader
of this gang of four. Another brother
followed later, completing the set of
five.
The three sisters attended, and found a
home at, the Convent of the Sacred Heart,
where they were able to grow spiritually,
intellectually and artistically. Mother
Elizabeth Murphy's Glee Club planted a
seed in Kathy's mind as she led the girls
from the classical and spiritual
repertoire of the Convent choir into the
1960s folk rock scene and then into a
professional career with a band called
Sugar n' Spice. The three young ladies
played across Canada and the U.S. and had
a wonderful time and some measure of
success.
Kate was always known to have great
intellectual potential as well as being a
gifted singer. Her lifelong dream of
becoming a lawyer was realized at York
University's Osgoode Hall Law School in
1981, followed by her articles at the
Ontario Attorney General's office. She was
admitted to the Ontario Bar Association on
April 7, 1983 and became a partner at
Toronto's Houser, Henry, Loudon and Syron
in February, 1990.
It was while Kate was pursuing her law
career in Ontario that she met her
husband, a forester named Michael Waldram.
They were married in Toronto on October 9,
1987. Kate returned to Manitoba with Mike
where she became a partner at Thompson
Dorfman Sweatman LLP and Mike managed the
Manitoba Model Forest at Pine Falls, MB.
Together they made important contributions
regarding resource management and
aboriginal affairs, some of which have
impact on our society to this day. Kate
was appointed to the Manitoba Law Reform
Commission in May, 2000 and received her
Master of Laws from Osgoode Hall in 2005.
Kate never fully recovered from the death
of her beloved Mike in 2006. Kate was
preceded in death by her mother Peggy
Murphy; husband Michael Waldram, and
brother-in-law Gerry Leger. Kate is
survived by her father Dr. Claude Murphy;
sisters Maureen (Gerry) and Aileen (Greg);
brothers Robert (Anne) and Paul (Barbara);
brother-in-law Jim Waldram (Pam); nephews
Sean (Robert) and Brady (Aileen); nieces
Brittany (Paul), Kaitlin (Jim) and Amara
(Jim), as well as her great-niece Laura
(Brady and Aleesha).
A Celebration of Life will be held for
Kate on May 28, 2015 at Notre Dame Roman
Catholic Church, 269 Jemima St. in
Selkirk, MB at 2:00 p.m. Kate's dear
friend Father Robbie McDougall will be the
celebrant. Those who are able to attend
are asked to confirm at
celebration@mvscs.com. Interment will
follow alongside her late husband at St.
Margaret's Cemetery in Lockport, MB.
Our family wishes to thank the caring
nurses, staff and Dr. Bruneau at Pinawa
Hospital for their warmth and compassion.
We also wish to express our deepest
gratitude to Dr. Rick Lindenschmidt, Kelly
and Denise at the Selkirk Medical Centre,
Vanessa, Sharon and Diana at Interlake
South Health Authority Home Care and Lila,
Kate's housekeeper who became a friend to
Kate in a very short time. Great thanks
are also due to Kate's sister Maureen and
her aunt Lynne for their special care and
attention to Kate over the last years.
"God respects me when I work, but He loves
me when I sing" - Rabindranath Tagore
Gilbart Funeral Home, Selkirk in care of
arrangements. www.gilbartfuneralhome.com
As
published in Winnipeg Free Press on
April 25, 2015
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