July 10, 1933 - August 16, 2023
In Loving Memory ~
Duncan resident Erna Murray passed away on August 16, 2023. She was born July 10, 1933 in Halbstadt, Manitoba.
By age eight she was washing floors at a restaurant, collecting laundry and helping raise her younger siblings. After grade eight, Erna left school and her home in Morris, Manitoba and moved to Winnipeg to make money to send back to her family. She was a babysitter, a candy factory worker, a keypunch operator, a data collector, a hat check girl... and usually had more than one job at a time.
In 1964 she married Ian Murray, an RBC manager. Transferring to Pine Falls, Manitoba, Nipigon, Ontario, The Pas, Manitoba and finally Dryden, Ontario they made friends wherever they lived. She still worked hard raising three children, playing bridge, curling and golf in addition to being a very successful door-to-door Electrolux salesperson.
Erna had a lot of skills, was super crafty and won many blue ribbons for her baking at fall fairs.
Once Ian retired in 1992 they settled in Duncan. They joined Probus and The Newcomers Club. Their past times became full-time, with the addition of world travel. They covered six of the seven continents and RV'ed up and down Canada. They had 30 pretty darn good years, with a lovely home, garden and a couple of grandchildren.
Eventually, the years caught up to them. Ian passed away in February. Erna had dementia and was always asking where he went. Then she fell and fractured her hip. She passed away six days later.
Erna Murray is survived by her daughter Brenda, son Ron, daughter Sharon Czettisch, (Jason) and grandchildren Ella and Riley as well as her brothers Glen (Darlene) and Ed (Judy) and sisters Dorothy and Barbara (Geoff) as well as many nieces and nephews.
She was predeceased by her husband Ian, parents Ed and Katherine Law and sisters Elsie and Marion.
She'll be buried next summer in Morris, Manitoba. If you care to make a donation in her memory, the Alzheimer Society would be fitting.