Roberta Anna Murphy

Roberta was our dear Mom and the centre of our family. We said our goodbyes on Wednesday May 6, 2020 after she peacefully left this life behind. Roberta was the eldest daughter of Robert Leo Vaughan and Alice Maud Doyle, growing up and spending her entire life in Halifax. Being born in January 1913 she was granted membership into a unique club of individuals whose lives spanned more than a century; she having made it to 107 years young. She was witness to the Halifax Explosion, saw the fledgling years of air flight and automobiles, lived through the experiences of two World Wars, the Great Depression and saw the development of amazing technologies. She took all change in stride and embraced the best of what life had on offer.

Her formative years found her attending Oxford Street, Bloomfield and Saint Patrick’s Girls Schools. As with many women of her era, she followed a path into clerical work, graduating from Halifax Ladies Business College after which employment was found at a number of commercial businesses and medical offices. The war years and beyond found her working as a Signal Clerk II in the communications branch at HMCS Dockyard of which she was always so very proud, as she felt it was in some small way a contribution to the war effort.

Mom led a full life outside of work having a love of all things sport and the outdoors. She was an avid basketball player during her school years, so much so that her parents had to remind her all too often that she was devoting more time to the court than to her studies. Throughout her early life her spare time was occupied with summers of swimming and canoeing on the Northwest Arm or finding a lift to Hubbards and Queensland Beaches. Winters would find her cross-country skiing on the Commons and at Point Pleasant Park and often taking the commuter train to Wentworth for a day on the slopes. She told us how on a Sunday she would carry her skis to St Mary’s Basilica for a 7am mass and then scurry to catch that commuter train. Any frozen ponds and lakes would entice her to strap on her skates and enjoy. Mom benefitted from the company of a wide circle of friends, all of whom would plan adventures to Boston and New York, travelling by train, ferry or bus back in the day.

Mom married our Dad relatively late in life and started her family just after her 40th birthday. She then poured her energies into lovingly raising her four children, Colleen, Kathleen, Janice (Mark Bohan) and Patrick. She was a strong-willed, resourceful woman and we respected and loved her for all she did and for how her love shaped us. She was unwavering in her faith and found great strength in her beliefs. For many years Mom’s aging parents were under her care as well, and we have fond memories of sharing a busy household with not only grandparents but a great-aunt and an uncle. It would be fair to say that caregiving was one of Mom’s callings in life. When time permitted during her busy schedule Mom enjoyed volunteering her time as a Brown Owl to the exuberant young girls of the local Brownie association and as a Sunday school teacher. Once her children were older, Mom directed her boundless energy into working in the Civil Service for yet another decade, finally retiring at age 70 with, at that time unknown to any, another 37 years of life ahead of her.

All things news was of great interest to Mom. She was a prolific reader of the newspaper and eagerly digested every article and used her knowledge to challenge anyone to a political discussion. She found great satisfaction in the debating process although at times she could be very stubborn and would rarely concede defeat.

A great joy in her life was the arrival of her four grandchildren, Peter, Erin, Stephen and Michael Bohan. Mom would sit unfazed, as toddlers with their endless energies played and engaged with each other on their visits with Nanny. As is often the prerogative of a grandparent, in her eyes they could do no wrong. Mom was always at the ready for a family road trip, picnic and often for her grandchildren’s soccer and basketball games or dancing recitals. She would pile into the already crowded van or car headed to that day’s destination. She was immensely proud of her children’s and grandchildren’s accomplishments and was always front and centre at life’s many milestones.

Our Mother’s passing leaves behind a large void in our lives and it is difficult to imagine a life without her as part of it. As always, time will lessen the grief, but the memories of our life with Mom will continue to be deeply and lovingly treasured.

Roberta is survived by her children and grandchildren and many nieces and nephews; John, Pat, Peg, Jeanne, Cathy, Marion, Bob, David, Laura, Val, Eileen, Robert, Michelle, Teresa and Danny. And as well by brothers-in-law, Gus and Danny and sister-in-law, Tudy. She was predeceased by our dad, William, her sisters; Alice Pelham, Angela Martin, Margaret Lightbody and her brothers Vincent and Sydney. And her infant grandson David Patrick Bohan.

Our family would like to extend our special thanks and acknowledge our great appreciation to a family friend, Karen Kennedy who gave of herself over many years in helping to lovingly care for our Mom. And our thanks also to Pearl Torkuebu who considered Mom like a grandmother. And to those on Garden Court who were dedicated to Roberta’s personal care, we extend our grateful thanks.

Cremation has taken place and arrangements entrusted to J. A. Snow Funeral Home, Lacewood Dr. Due to the current circumstances, a celebration of Roberta’s life will be held at a future date. Donations in Roberta’s memory may be made to Hope Cottage: https://www.hopecottage.ca/

Messages of condolence may be sent to: www.jasnowfuneralhome.com