Margaret ‘Midge’ Murphy

Margaret was born in Brooklyn, New York on May 29, 1932. Growing up alongside her two older brothers, Desmond and Gerald, she could be found spending her summers at one of her favourite places, Coney Island. Margaret became known as Midge to her friends; that name stayed with her. During her teen years, Midge worked at a bakery in Grand Central Station, a tour guide for walking tours in Manhattan, and worked as a model in the garment district and on television. From a young age, Midge was an Irish dancer and became the NY state champion in 1946. Her love for dancing and her passion for trying new things set Midge up to leave home at 18 to pursue dancing professionally. Midge worked at the Flamingo in Las Vegas, where she had the pleasure of working with Frank Sinatra. Perhaps her most important gig as a dancer was as a member of a company where she worked with many of the stars of the era, including Sammy Davis Jr. and Danny Thomas.

While on tour, Midge travelled to Gatineau, Quebec, where she met a handsome musician from the orchestra – Phil. Midge and Phil (d.2022) were married in 1953, and soon after settled in London, Ontario. They loved five children: Chris (Carol), Pat (Kerri), Michelle, Kevin (Barbara), and Laura (Tim Pritchard); nine grandchildren: Amanda, Sandy, Maggie, Eryn, Sara, Mark, Peter, Mara, Austin; and five great-grandchildren.

Midge was always a champion of all musical performances given by Phil or her children. She travelled on all of her children’s high school band and orchestra trips as a chaperone (mostly for Phil), and, was always the adult in the room who remembered to bring along anything that might possibly be needed. Midge never missed an opportunity to cheer her family on, be it sports, dance or musical pursuits. Midge was active in the Garden Club of London for many years and enjoyed arranging and/or pressing flowers from her garden. She maintained her sense of style and design all of her life, looking great in any hat and getting dressed up for all occasions. Midge was a great hostess and loved to entertain; she threw a great party – be it a child’s birthday or for friends and family. She was the ultimate organizer and always had a list ready with chores for the family cleaning day, groceries, or daily tasks. If it needed doing, it was on the list. Midge remained a dancer into her 80s and attended Zumba classes at the Y, where she was often found supporting her classmates with step tips.

Throughout her life, Midge always put others before herself; as a granddaughter who shared her space with her grandmother, as a daughter who helped to support her family, as a wife who enabled her husband’s career, as a mother who put her children’s needs first, and as a grandmother who loved unconditionally. Always ready with a hug and a smile, she will be missed. In lieu of flowers, Midge wishes for you to love each other.

“Miss me a little – but not too long

And not with your head bowed low.

Remember the love that we once shared

And bury your sorrows in doing good deeds

Miss me – but let me go”

– “Let Me Go” by Christina Rossetti