Obituary of Helen Marie Murray

On April 29, 2021, at the Halifax Infirmary, we had to say a final farewell to a beloved mother, sister, grandmother, great-grandmother, aunt and friend. Born in Sept, 1936, she was the only daughter of the late Hilda and Harold S. Buckley.

She was predeceased by her cherished husband Kenneth (Lucky) Murray, brother Gerald (Dewie) Buckley, and step-grandson Callum Mullaney. Left to mourn her passing are her 3 children: Brian, Judy Murray-Mullaney (Bernie) and Kevin, as well as her 3 brothers: Harold (Yvette) Buckley, Bill Buckley, and Bob (Pauline) Buckley. She leaves behind 5 cherished grandchildren, 7 precious great-grandchildren, many nieces and nephews, and scores of treasured friends.

As a young girl, she started work in the Oxford Theatre, and then was further employed with SimpsonSears, and later in life worked for I.M.P. Aerospace. She married the love of her life “Lucky” in 1955 and it was a happy and loving union that lasted over 51 years filled with children, wonderful adventures, parties, travel, line dancing, cottage life at Big Lake Mush-a-Mush, bingos, music, and social dancing. Following the death of her husband in 2007, she spent time with her friend and companion, Harry Briand. Being a social butterfly by nature, she loved family & friends’ get togethers, senior luncheons, legion dances, bingos, shopping excursions and vacation trips away. In her last few years, she spent many relaxing & enjoyable days cozied up by the fire, doing jigsaw puzzles, napping in the sunroom, watching the birds and sitting by the lake at her daughter & son-in-law’s cottage where she always said she was treated like royalty. She will be remembered by many for her laugh, her fun-loving antics and her high-spirited personality. She was fiercely independent and wished to remain so until the bitter end. Her advancing Parkinsons forced her to accept the help and support of family & friends, senior support groups, as well as medical experts.

We would like to express our sincere thanks to the staff of Northwood Homecare, Closing the Gap, Seniors Transit, and experts: Dr. Soroka and Dr. Ginther, as well as the VON nurses and doctors who have cared for her over the years. We are comforted in the belief that she has now reunited with her one true love (Lucky), freed from earthly infirmities and dancing through eternity.

Cremation has taken place and a memorial Mass will be held on Thursday, September 14, 2023 at 2 pm from Stella Maris Parish (St. Michael's Catholic Church), followed by interment in the Gate of Heaven Cemetery.  If you wish to honour her memory, dust off your party shoes, tune your radio to 96.5 FM and dance while you can.