Mary Ellen "Marty" Margaret Murray

Mary Ellen will be forever cherished by her husband and soulmate, Richard Parker; her daughter, Alana; her siblings Arthur (Gwen), Sheila, Pat (Kirsten), Gabrielle (Ken) and sister-in-law Lynda; her many nieces and nephews; and a wide circle of friends and colleagues she touched over the years.

Born in Wolseley, Saskatchewan, Mary Ellen studied at the University of Regina and the University of Toronto. While at Regina, being perfectly bilingual she participated in a French Department teaching program in Switzerland — an early sign of her love for travel and culture.

After graduation, Mary Ellen devoted herself to teaching with the Catholic Separate School Boards of Toronto and Calgary, inspiring and making a difference in the lives of countless students. Alongside her teaching career, she also excelled in other fields — in finance (Royal Bank of Canada), in government (Chief Protocol Officer for the Province of Saskatchewan), and in industry (Saskatchewan Mining Development Corporation).

Mary Ellen loved to entertain, with dinner parties being her favourite way to share her culinary talents and hospitality. She was an indomitable spirit, always active — skiing, biking, travelling, running, walking, cooking, baking, and caring for those she loved. Her fierce love of life deeply enriched the lives of all who knew her.

She delighted in immersing herself in other cultures and experiencing new worlds. Her greatest joy came in 1998, when she brought Alana home from Romania and built a loving life together.

For two weeks, Mary Ellen fought tenaciously against an aggressive lymphoma before passing peacefully at Foothills Medical Centre.

A Celebration of Life will be held for family and friends at 3:00 pm, September 20, 2025 at South Calgary Funeral Centre (12700 Macleod Trail S).

In lieu of flowers, donations to the Canadian Cancer Society would be gratefully appreciated.