Gwendolyn Elizabeth Murphy

announces her death on Monday May 27th, in her 92nd year.

Elizabeth died at home in Waterloo, Ontario, Canada, with her family at her side.

Elizabeth was born in Banbridge, Northern Ireland and grew up in Sligo on

the west coast of Ireland. She trained as a nurse at St. George’s Hospital in

London England, and The Belfast Hospital for Sick Children in Belfast

Northern Ireland before emigrating to Canada in 1952. She worked at Sick

Children’s hospital in Toronto prior to joining Trans Canada Airlines (Air

Canada) as a stewardess. She also nursed in Sudbury, Cambridge and

Kitchener. In her fifties, Elizabeth returned to school and earned an ECE

Certificate as well as a Bachelor’s degree from the University of Waterloo,

with a special certificate in child abuse.

Elizabeth founded a diagnostic preschool (Tir na Nog) in Cambridge, that

integrated ‘at risk’ children and was instrumental in profoundly changing the

lives of many families in the Region of Waterloo. She was recognized for

her education of, and advocacy on behalf of, at risk children, with a Paul

Harris Fellow in 1981. She also taught at Conestoga College.

Known for her creativity, Elizabeth was an accomplished cook, seamstress

and award winning landscape artist. She was a voracious reader, and also

enjoyed skiing, sailing, kayaking (at age 90!), aqua fit, and travelling. She

especially loved somewhat often heated political or current event discussions around the dinner table.

Elizabeth was the loving mom of Paula Murphy and Greg Cummings of

Waterloo and Linda Murphy and Thomas Rolfe of Windsor, loving Grandma

of Garrett Cummings and Olivia Sarrazin of Cambridge, Danielle

Cummings of Chamonix, France, and Liam Rolfe of Sault Ste. Marie, dear

sister of Myra Orr of Courtenay, British Columbia, and brother David Orr of

Cork City, Ireland. Liz will be greatly missed by her dear friend Gloria

Baerg of Waterloo. She will be fondly remembered by many friends and co-workers.

A celebration of Elizabeth’s life will be held at Westmount Memorial

Celebration Centre (1001 Ottawa St. S, Kitchener), on Sunday June 2, 2019 from 2-4pm.

In Elizabeth’s memory donations may be made to a children’s charity of

choice. The family requests that in lieu of pre-ordered flowers, those attending the celebration bring a vase of lilacs, Elizabeth’s favourite flowers.