It is with great sadness that the family announces the death of Elizabeth (LIz) Murphy on March 25, 2024 at the Mindemoya Health Centre at the age of 44 years.
Liz was born March 6, 1980 at the General Hospital in Sudbury. Less than a week later, Liz was airlifted to the Hospital for Sick Children (Sick Kids) in Toronto for open heart surgery. Her prognosis was dire and yet, she persisted. She hit milestones like walking years later than her peers, but she made up for it with drive, sass, and a thrill seeking attitude that outstripped her older siblings’. She wasn’t happy on a playground swing unless the chains holding it were in danger of wrapping around the top bar. She tobogganed with gusto and insisted on piloting the GT Snowracer one handed, all the while hooting with joy. Liz participated in local recreational programs, such as downhill skiing, bowling, and sledge hockey. She was seemingly impervious to cold and would swim, blue-lipped in the chilly waters of the Strawberry Channel at the family’s camp on Manitoulin Island. Aspects of her condition remained a mystery until the mapping of the genome and subsequent research revealed a chromosomal abnormality known as 22q11.Time often moves too fast for people like Liz and the gains she struggled so hard to make started to fall away, but she always kept her spark. Eventually, Liz made her home at Community Living Manitoulin at Maple Terrace in Mindemoya, where she became a staff favourite. We continue to marvel at how a short, complicated life has brought so many people together. Our family would like to thank Community Living Manitoulin, the VON Adult Day Program, The Dalglish Family 22q Clinic, the Mindemoya Health Centre, the Children’s Treatment Centre, Easter Seals (Northwood Camp, in particular), Special Services at Home, and all the supportive family and friends. Liz is survived by her mother, Sheila Murphy, her father Lou Murphy, sisters Patti Murphy (Oliver Horn), Kate McCarthy (Curtis Litzen), brother Matt Murphy (Lia Roy), nieces (Lauren, Penny, Heather, Liv, and Grace) and nephews (Louis and Henri), aunts, uncles, and more cousins than you can shake a stick at. In lieu of flowers, the family would appreciate donations to Community Living Manitoulin.
Memorial Visitation at the Jackson and Barnard Funeral Home, 233 Larch Street, Sudbury (friends may call after 10:30am Saturday). Memorial Service in the R.J Barnard Chapel Saturday, March 30th, 2024 at 11:30am.Cremation with interment in the Civic Cemetery.
In lieu of flowers donations to Community Living Manitoulin would be greatly appreciated.