Obituary of Anne & Hamish Murdoch
Our parents, Anne and Hamish Murdoch were married on April 8, 1961, in Montreal. It was a marriage based on love, respect, and faith. True love to the very end, Mum passed away on Saturday, August 31 in the late evening, and Dad joined her on Monday, September 2 in the afternoon, just before supper.
Together, they raised their 4 children: Janet (David) Soper, Mary (Eric) Luiker, Elspeth (David) Nickerson and Alexander (Jody) Murdoch. They were very proud Granny Annie and Granddad to: Katie, Juliana and Andrew Luiker; Joseph and Sophie Nickerson; and Ian, Connor and Alyssa Murdoch.
They were very much involved in their community. Dad served as a member of Rothesay Town Council, Kirk Session, and on the Nursing Home Garden board. As well, he was pivotal in the creation of the Rothesay Area Heritage Trust and an active member of the Rothesay Living Museum at Rothesay High School. He served as president of the Saint John Saint Andrew’s Society in 1983-84. He sang in the church choir, volunteered at the Church’s nursing home, and with the Saint John Community Food Basket. He helped raise money for the Church Home garden by chopping and parceling kindling (using “found” rope from the beaches at New River and Little Lepreau). He received the Sovereign’s Medal for Volunteers.
Mum very much enjoyed her 32 years as a volunteer at the Community Food Basket of Saint John which she cofounded with Molly Smith and Esther Shanks. She spent many years volunteering as the Pastoral Care Coordinator at the Church of St John and St Stephen nursing home and was central to planning and tending the beautiful gardens there to ensure every resident had a room with a view. For her outstanding work, she received the coveted Canada Volunteer Award. She also received the Sovereign’s Medal for Volunteers. Mum helped to set up the Co-op Kitchen at the church, a program which helps local families provide nutritious meals for their children. She sang in the church choir for over 50 years and also served on the Kirk Session.
Mum and Dad established many long and close friendships. Together they created a warm and welcoming home, often a hang-out for our friends. They had a keen sense of humour and fun and enjoyed entertaining at home as well as attending "the Burns suppers". They were strong supporters of the Rothesay Pony Club.
Anne Stewart Henry Murdoch was born in Montreal on March 19, 1931, to Dr J Stewart Henry and Dr Leila Manley Henry. Younger sister to Dr John S Henry, Mum was educated at Miss Edgar's and Miss Cramp's School for Girls in Montreal and held 2 degrees from McGill (BSc Biology 1953 and MSc Biochemistry 1957).
During her short professional career as a biochemist, Anne worked at Birkbeck College in London, England; Harvard Medical School in Cambridge, Massachusetts; and at the Montreal Children's Hospital. One of her research interests while working towards a PhD in Montreal was Cystic Fibrosis.
Mum grew up close to the Laurentians in Quebec and was introduced to cross country skiing by Jack Rabbit (Hermann Smith) Johannsen and spent her childhood winters skiing with him. She travelled to Europe (between degrees!) with university friends and enjoyed downhill skiing in Austria.
James Wilson Henry Murdoch (Hamish) was born in Macduff, Banffshire, Scotland March 21, 1928. Son of Margaret Wyllie (McMurtrie) and Alexander Henry Murdoch, pharmacist. The fourth of six children (John, Elizabeth, Marjorie, dad, twins Nancy and Jenny) he attended Banff Academy from 1939-1945. He served in the British Army in the Royal Engineers as second lieutenant (part of Emergency National Service WWII) from 1946-1948. He served in Britain, Egypt, Greece and Kenya. He attended the Aberdeen School of Architecture (Gray’s School of Art, Robert Gordon’s College), graduating in 1953. He practiced in Elgin, Scotland until 1957, then became lecturer in Architecture at the Nigerian College of Arts, Science and Technology. He returned to London in 1959 and practiced until 1960.
Dad arrived in Montreal on the last voyage of the Empress of France on Dominion Day July 1, 1960. He worked in Montreal with the Engineering Design Team for the new CBC Don Valley complex in Toronto. After Mum and Dad married, they moved to Charlottetown, PEI in 1962 where dad worked as an associate with G. Keith Pickard from 1962-1964. After working on the design of the Church of St John and St Stephen (now Grace Presbyterian), he moved his young family to Rothesay and practiced as a self-employed architect. In 1988, he partnered with K. Gregory Murdock to become Murdoch and Murdock Architects, Inc. They had many loyal and engaging staff. He retired from this practice in 1995. He was a member of the Royal Institute of British Architects, Royal Architectural Institute of Canada, Architects Association of New Brunswick, and Construction Specifications Canada. During his career, he mentored many students from Dalhousie University through the Co-Op program.
They were predeceased by their siblings, parents, niece, Margaret (Murdoch) Finnie and son-in-law Eric Luiker. They are survived by their children, grandchildren, special sister-in-law Norah Henry and many wonderful nieces and nephews.
Arrangements are under the care and direction of Brenan’s Funeral Home, 111 Paradise Row, Saint John, NB (506-634-7424). Service to take place at Grace Presbyterian Church, 101 Coburg Street, Saint John on Saturday, September 14, 2024, at 12:00 pm. Visitation to take place from 10:00 am to 11:45 am at the Church prior to the funeral. Those unable to attend the service in person are invited to view a livestream of the funeral by visiting their obituary on Brenan’s website and clicking “Funeral Livestream”. The family requests that folks attending the visitation and service please be respectful and mindful of the fact that some of the family are immuno-compromised.
The family would like attendees to wear something they love, something colourful.
In lieu of flowers, the family requests donations to any of the following charities: Church of St John and St Stephen Home, Grace Presbyterian Church, Saint John Community Food Basket, and Bobby’s Hospice. Online condolences and remembrances may be placed at www.brenansfh.com.
