Claire Louise Murphy

Claire Louise (née Strachan) Murphy passed away peacefully, Sunday, May 12, 2024, at Parkstone Enhanced Care in Halifax, Nova Scotia, at the age of 96. Born in Mulgrave, Nova Scotia, where her father was the Quartermaster on the ferry between mainland Nova Scotia and Cape Breton Island, Claire was known as “Calla” to her family. Claire did her secretarial qualifications at Mount St. Bernard, where she made life-long friends and wonderful memories. After moving to Halifax to take a job at Nova Scotia Light and Power, Claire met the love of her life, Larry Murphy. They began their married life together in 1953.

People often assumed that Larry, the extrovert, was the person in charge, but all of her children knew well that it was the small and quiet Claire who ruled the roost of 19 Crestview. She managed her family with grace and love - cooking, baking, and sewing at all hours of the day and night, and working tirelessly to look after everyone. Truly, it was not uncommon to find Claire sewing a dress, or typing up a child’s university paper at 2:00 in the morning.

Claire and Larry believed in a life of service to family, community, and church, and they took joy in helping others. She was a member of the Catholic Women’s League and dedicated to the St.Vincent dePaul Society, creating and serving meals to the homeless and encouraging her children to contribute and help serve as well.

Claire is treasured by her children as a woman who had an incredible strength of character and an unfailing optimism about life as well as faith in those around her. She outlived many of her family and friends, but Claire continued to be surrounded by family and community who loved her. She struggled with dementia within the past ten years, but Claire’s unwavering kindness warmed the people around her and brought them close. She truly was a wonderful woman and mother who enriched the lives of many.

She was predeceased by husband, Larry, her parents John and Clara (née MacMillan) Strachan, her brothers, James, Duncan, Walter, and John (Buddy) Strachan, as well as her two sisters, Nora (Jack) Taplin, and Sister Mary Strachan. Claire is survived by her 7 children Tim Murphy, Anne (Hubert) Ryan, Maureen (Ted) Kozik, Erin (Murray Stinson) Murphy, Helen (Jens Drees) Murphy, Claire (Paul) Holt, and Kevin Murphy, as well as her 15 grandchildren Sarah and Jennifer Murphy; Emma, Ben, and Laurel Kozik; Haley and Peter Ryan; Lauren, Sean, and Maureen Murphy; Daniel, Nicolas, and Noah Drees; and Rachel and Michaela Holt.

The Murphy family would like to offer our most sincere thanks to the wonderful staff of Parkstone who cared for our mother these past 4 years. Their dedication and care was always noticed and greatly appreciated.

Visitation for Claire will be held on Wednesday, May 22, 2024 from 5-8 pm at J.A. Snow Funeral Home 339 Lacewood Dr. The Funeral Mass will be at 11am on Thursday, May 23, at StellaMaris (formerly St. Michael’s) Church, 14 St. Michael’s Avenue, Halifax, NS. 2024. In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to Hope Cottage or the St. Vincent De Paul Society of Halifax.