Charlotte Murphy

Charlotte passed away in Calgary, Alberta on Wednesday, June 15, 2022, at the age of 95. Charlotte was born in Wolseley, Saskatchewan, to parents Jakob and Katharina Harms, and lived her early years in Rosemary, Alberta. Charlotte was the first of her family born in Canada, and grew up sandwiched between 5 brothers. She was thrilled when eight years later, she was joined by a baby sister, Hedy.

Growing up in a large Mennonite family on a farm, it wasn’t always easy but she had many happy memories. She loved playing sports with her brothers and classmates, and books and music were lifelong loves. First time eating a donut as a bribe when she was 8 was a moment.

Life quickly changed after school when she moved to Calgary, first working at a Dairy Bar, then progressing to a bank. She met her future husband, Arnold Murphy, on a blind date. Arnold was in the RCAF, and they spent the next 20 years going wherever they were sent, a wonderful way to see seldom visited parts of Canada. After Arnold retired from the RCAF, they and their three children settled in Montreal. After his death, Charlotte started her travels in earnest, this time going wherever she wanted - north to Alaska, west to Hawaii and the Pacific Coast, east to Europe, south to Cuba and the Panama Canal. Some of her favourites were Haida Gwaii and Wells Grey Provincial Park in British Columbia, Norway in Europe, and a fascinating trip through the Panama Canal.

She collected lifelong friends as others collect books - RCAF friends in eastern Canada, fellow students from John Abbott College, square dancers in Quebec, fellow volunteers at the Go-Getters, parishioners from Varsity Acres Presbyterian Church, friends from Tai Chi, friends and neighbours at Colonel Belcher, and all her fellow artists.

Her passion was art, admiring it and creating it. There wasn’t a museum or an art gallery she didn’t want to see. She was willing to try her hand at anything - movable teddy bears, hooking rugs, singing, photography, poetry, and painting. It took many attempts and false starts, but her daughter finally wore her down and convinced her to try watercolour painting, and she never looked back. She loved to paint landscapes, birds, animals, and people, whatever took her fancy.

Her faith and her family were always her core. Her children and their better halves, her grandchildren and her extended family were always of interest to her. She always kept her sense of humour whether through birthday cards and letters or ongoing conversations through her life. To love and be loved were her greatest joys. She will be greatly missed.

She is lovingly remembered by her daughter, Eileen Kraft; her sons, Rob (Mark) and Michael; and her grandchildren, Jason and Matthew. She is survived by sisters-in-law, Audrey Harms and Isobel (Lawrence) Parrish; brother-in-law, Paul Bartel; and numerous nieces and nephews. She was predeceased by her husband, Arnold; her parents, Jakob and Katharina Harms; brothers, Hugo (Ingrid), Bill, Ike, Paul (Dorothy); sisters, Hedy Bartel and Lydia; son-in-law, Rob Kraft; brother-in-law, Albert (Audrey); and niece, Debbie Proctor.

A Memorial Service will be held at Foster’s Garden Chapel, 3220 – 4 Street N.W., Calgary, Alberta (across from Queen’s Park Cemetery) on Tuesday, July 5, 2022 at 2:00 PM. Social distancing will be encouraged.

As per Charlotte’s request, please donate to your favorite charities instead of sending flowers.

A very special thanks to the restaurant staff, support people, and caregivers from Colonel Belcher and Calgary Home Care who helped her in the final years of her journey.

YESTERDAY

Head tossed back, hair blowing in the breeze,

Feet skipping along as carefree as you please:

I remember - can’t they see

That only yesterday that was me?

-- Joan Burchell