Mary Carroll Conrad

It is with deep sadness but also gratitude for a life well lived that the family shares the passing of a beloved wife, mother, grandmother, sister-in-law, and friend. Mary Carroll Conrad (Murphy), 88, passed away unexpectedly on March 13, 2025.

Mary was beautiful. While she was attractive by any measure, her true beauty shone through in her values and virtues. She was someone people gravitated toward—her warmth, kindness, and engaging smile left a lasting impression on everyone she met. She loved her family deeply, and that love was returned many times over.

A devout Roman Catholic throughout her life, Mary’s faith guided her in all things. When faced with difficult decisions, she would ask herself: What would Jesus say or do? With that discernment, her path was always clear.

Though she is gone, she has left behind a legacy of love, faith, and cherished memories.

Mary was the second child of John and Mary (Carroll) Murphy, born in Halifax on July 29, 1936.

Mary attended the Sacred Heart School in Halifax. She graduated in 1957 as a Registered Radiology Technologist and worked at the Victoria General Hospital. Her second career was at the YWCA, facilitating parent-child programs—helping many young families bond while introducing their children to their first social experiences.

In her younger years, volunteering was an important part of her life. She dedicated her time to the Canadian Cancer Society, parenting programs, and was one of the founding members of Adsum House. She also volunteered with the IWK Hospital’s Read to Me program and the Well Baby Health Clinics.

Mary and her beloved husband, Gerry, cultivated each other’s lives. They were high school sweethearts for seven years before their romance blossomed into 65 years of marriage. They enjoyed traveling, spending many Marches in Fort Myers, Florida. Their ski vacations took them across Canada, from Alberta and British Columbia to Nova Scotia and New Brunswick, and even once to France. Together, they visited all the capital cities of Canada. Gerry’s role as Nova Scotia’s representative at the Law of the Seas Conference allowed them to travel to Geneva, Caracas, and New York. They also took many cruises to the Caribbean islands.

For 42 summers, they cherished their time at their cottage at Lake Torment, where they enjoyed gardening, boating, water-skiing, swimming, scavenger hunts, and partying with family, friends, and neighbours. The cottage was always a place of renewal and decision-making. In later years, it became a spiritual retreat.

Mary and Gerry participated in World Wide Marriage Encounter and became presenters for many years, forming lifelong friendships. They were lay leaders in their church, partners in duplicate bridge, avid downhill skiers, golfers, and sailors.

Above all, their sons, Stephen and Graham, and their granddaughter, Candace, were the most important and loved people in their lives. Mary’s love for her family was boundless, and she took immense pride in their accomplishments, always offering unwavering support, wisdom, and encouragement.

Friendships and relationships were so important to Mary—she had a large circle of friends. She cherished those in her ladies’ bridge and duplicate bridge groups, her Bible study “buddies”, her Friday morning prayer group, her Monday evening prayer warriors, and her Sacred Heart friends, with whom she shared springtime sleepovers. She also treasured many lifelong friends from growing up in Halifax.

Mary was predeceased by her parents, her sister Wenawae, her brothers Gerard and John, her sister-in-law Dianne Conrad, her nephew Derek Conrad, her brother-in-law Kenneth Conrad, and her sister-in-law Janet Conrad.

She is survived and will be greatly missed by her loving husband, R. Gerald Conrad (Gerry), her sons, Stephen and Graham Conrad, and her granddaughter Candace (Adam Mitchell). She also leaves behind her sisters-in-law Julia Murphy (the late John) and Dorothy Murphy (the late Gerard), her brothers-in-law Graham Conrad (Donna Goyetche) and Brian Conrad (Lillian), and many nieces and nephews.

Visitation will be held on Sunday, March 30th, at A.L. Mattatall Funeral Home, 217 Portland Street, Dartmouth, from 5-7 p.m. A funeral service will be held on Monday, March 31 at 1 p.m. at Our Lady of Guadalupe Parish - Saint Peter Church, Dartmouth.