Eleanor Olive Murphy

Eleanor Olive Murphy

July 7, 1948 – Aug 16, 2019

Died peacefully on Friday, August 16 at a vacation cottage, Round Lake, Ontario.  Eleanor was the Daughter of Maurice J Murphy (Ottawa) and Olive Acton (Basken) Murphy (Ottawa).  Eleanor was born in Ottawa, Ontario but lived her last 20 years part time in Australia. She will be so very sadly missed by her sister Barbara (Ottawa),  best friend Cheryl Bates, (Australia) and by her many friends, companions and former staff at both Arc Industries and Quinlan (OCAPDD). Will be dearly remembered by many Basken, Murphy and Graff cousins. Eleanor is predeceased by her loving second mother, Jean Frances Graff who nurtured her and treated her as her own for 44 years.

Eleanor was an adventurous, gentle loving soul with a wicked sense of humour, she brought sunshine to all the people she met.

Eleanor was a careful and accurate worker in the workshop at OCAPDD and she also attended and graduated in continuing education in the adult special education program.

Eleanor’s health started to fail 3 years ago, but she took each day in her stride in an uncomplaining way, rewarding us with a knowing look and a little smile.  She appreciated the special care of the PSW’s that attended to her from Bayshore and VHA and the dedicated visiting nurses from Carefor.  The PSWS were with her for 2.5 to 3 years providing loving and loyal care. This special care was set up through her LHIN case manager Kelly Chard and sensitive coordinators at Bayshore.  Special thanks goes to the many women and men who enriched her life over the years as activity companions, art facilitators, respite providers and yoga partners.  We are very grateful for the continuing home based service provided in Massage and Physiotherapy by Nada Skerl and Katie Ireland respectively.  Critical medical care was provided by Dr Owen Hughes for Eleanor’s adult years and Dr Debbie Caddigan  for her senior years.  Dr Caddigan went the extra mile making frequent house calls and finding a treatment to address Eleanor’s Vascular Dementia so that Eleanor was able to reclaim her positive happy nature.

Friends are invited to visit the Beechwood National Memorial Centre, 280 Beechwood Ave. Thursday evening from 5 to 8 pm. Funeral Service will be held Friday August 23 in the Scred Space at 2:30 pm with burial and reception to follow. In lieu of flowers, donations to OCAPDD www.ocapdd.on.ca or Camp Misquah, www.campmisquah.com would be much appreciated.