Obituary of Margaret Dunphy
<p>At Turnbull Home, her residence for the past 7 years, on Christmas Day morning 2013, in the company of caring staff, former coworkers and friends following a last visit with her beloved sister Maureen Dunphy, also resident at Turnbull. Margaret Dunphy was born and raised in Fredericton, the youngest of three daughters of Clarence and Beatrice Dunphy of Charlotte St. She attended St Dunstan’s school and Fredricton High School as did her sisters Maureen and Constance. She boarded at convent school in the Miramichi during her high school years. She spent her working life in Saint John, most notably as a respected and fondly remembered ladies’ apparel retail clerk at MRA’s, Scovil’s and Dallairds. She attended all her clients with a deeply ingrained ethic of service and discretion. She had a sense of social propriety and grace that is remarked upon by all who knew her in those years. She was reknowned for remembering anniversaries and birthdays of all she knew. Following her retail career, Margaret worked as a care aide at Turnbull Home for several years, there becoming fond friends with most of the staff who later cared for her. Following their mother’s death and Maureen’s retirement Margaret and Maureen took up residence at The Admiral Beatty apartments overlooking their beloved King Square, the bandstand and the City Market where they were daily customers. Margaret, ever the loyal sister, took wonderful care of Maureen during years of failing health until her own ill health necessitated hospitalization and a move to Turnbull Home. There Margaret could be depended upon to keep the resident social circle conversation going with reminiscences and long remembered social connections between the visitors of the day, their families and the residents themselves. She also contributed her lovely singing voice to the choir. Margaret was a faithful congregant at St. Peter’s, thoroughly enjoyed her years in the St. Pius X choir and spent her Uptown years as a parishioner of the Cathedral of the Immaculate Conception. Margaret knew herself as a child of God and drew daily comfort from communion with Christ and the Blessed Mother in prayer. She loved musical theatre and strong tenor voices in particular. She enjoyed several years of travel with friends before her sense of duty prevented her from being away. Margaret was predeceased by her parents and her sister Connie. She leaves her sister Maureen and her cousins Michael and Peter ( Marion) Dunphy of Saint John as well as her remaining Carleton Place cousins. She was an attentive and doting aunt to her Montreal nieces and nephews: Maureen McDonald (Dan) Bourgeois, now of Millbrook ON ; H. Gordon ( Anne Morris) McDonald of Toronto; Jeanie McDonald (Joe) McAuley of Gananoque ON; Robert (Leslie-Ann McCrae) McDonald of Toronto; and Katherine McDonald ( Lionel) Quenneville of Maxville ON, and 16 grandnieces and nephews. She eagerly attended family weddings and social events in Upper Canada, ceasing her travel only when it became too difficult for her sister Maureen. Margaret was blessed with a warm, light heart and a careful manner. She was completely without cynicism or guile. She bore illness and disappointment with remarkable forbearance and found joy in colour and music, people-watching on King Square and keeping up with local, Home staff and family news. She will be sorely missed and never forgotten. Mass of Christian Burial will be celebrated for Margaret on Thurs Jan 9, 2014 at 12:10pm at the Cathedral of the Immaculate Conception, Saint John. There will be no visitation but expressions of condolence will be gratefully received by family during the hour before the service and during the reception afterward at Fitzpatrick’s Funeral Home. In lieu of flowers please remember Margaret with donations to the Alzheimer Society or to a charity of your choice.</p>
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