Our dear, loving Mom passed away on November 3, 2019 at the age of 95, having been blessed most of her life with good health. She is survived by her daughters Linda (Alastair Fraser), Janis (Bob Allan), Joan (Ron Biggar) and Kay (Mike Stedman), five grandchildren (Erica, Kara, Alexis, Stephanie and Michael), six great-grandchildren (Carli, Garin, Nate, Carter, Kayti and Jetson), her sister Mavis Smyth, sister-in-law Joyce Jones, and numerous extended family. Edna was predeceased by her husband, Eric, and four siblings.
Edna was born in Crandall, Manitoba to Eva and William Murdoch. She had many fond memories of their family's rural lifestyle which she shared with her siblings, Stan, Les, Rena and Mavis - curling with wooden rocks, hockey, ice-skating, "fox and goose" in the snow. She often talked of the singing competitions she entered with her friends and her sisters, and she had the certificates that confirmed her vocal abilities.
In her late teens, after graduation, she moved to Vancouver with her parents. It was while ice-skating at the PNE Forum that she met her future husband, Eric. They were married on August 12, 1944 at the home of their friends, Jimmy and Mary McGowan, in the West End. Mom and Dad were together for over 63 years until Dad passed away on June 8, 2008.
Eric, his brother Bill, and his father Lester, built their first family home on Napier in East Vancouver. Over the next 18 years they raised four daughters. Family was everything to Edna. With the exception of the Second World War when she built furniture at Hammond Furniture, Mom was a homemaker extraordinaire. She was always there to greet us at lunch and after school, and to ensure we had three square meals a day in front of us. We took it all for granted, of course.
In 1964, Eric and Edna moved the family to Capitol Hill in North Burnaby. Over the next few years, they transformed the backyard and installed an in-ground swimming pool, a double garage, Dad's vegetable garden and Mom's flower garden. Home became the focal point for many fun pool parties with friends and family.
Eric and Edna were members of the Fraternal Order of Eagles and formed many life-long friendships, including Chris and John Peckham who became godparents to all four girls.
In 1967, Mom joined the Sweet Adelines, Lions Gate Chapter. The next 20 years were very special to her. She travelled with the Chorus to competitions in Canada and the USA, and was a member of a double-quartet, the Reflections. Her daughters, Joan and Kay, sang with her in the chorus for a time. She also met her good friend, Pat Titos, and they walked the Burnaby trails together for many years.
In retirement Eric and Edna had many happy travels together. Their favorite destination was Maui which they visited 17 times. Edna moved to South Surrey in 2010 to be closer to her daughters. She continued to garden, knit and travel with her family until November 2018 when she began to have health issues, for the first time in her 95 years.
A reception to celebrate Edna's life will be held on Wednesday, February 5, 2020 (details to follow).
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