Obituary of Marie Rose Murphy

The passing of Marie Rose (Hartley) (Ward-Croucher) Murphy, wife of Michael Murphy, occurred on Tuesday, July 8, 2025 at the Dr. Everett Chalmers Regional Hospital in Fredericton, NB. Born on April 11, 1938 in Perth, NB, she was the daughter of the late James and Alice (Nethaway) Hartley. Marie enjoyed traveling with her late husband, Rod. She had the pleasure to live in Germany for 8 years. Marie worked for CANEX, Kmart offices in Petawawa, ON and Chatham; Shoppers Drug Mart in Oromocto, where she met wonderful people; she also worked as a Seniors Apartment Building Supervisor in Fredericton, where she loved the seniors and they her; she also enjoyed doing home care for two wonderful people, Art and Eileen Appleton.

In addition to her loving husband of 26 years, Marie is survived by her sons, Rod Croucher Jr. (Melanie) of Rusagonis, NB, James Ward of Vancouver, BC and Dale Ward (Joe) of Thailand; daughters, Patricia Ward of Fredericton, NB and Elaine Jewett (late Neil) of Douglas, NB; sister, Bonnie Smith of Perth, NB; step-children, Mike Murphy (Angie) of Hamilton, NB, Tracey and Clinton; grandchildren, Rod Ward, James Ward, Ashlie Ward, Jessica Ward, Brittany Croucher, Paige Croucher, Brad Bates and Connie Roy; her great-grandbabies, Thomas, Justin, Jayten, McKenzie, Brandy, Samantha, Nicholas and Chloe; several nieces and nephews.

Besides her parents, Marie was predeceased by her first husband, Albert Ward; second husband, Rod Croucher; daughter, Catherine Smith; infant son, Stephen Ward; sisters, Linda Lovely, Sharon Lovely, Margaret Lovely, Vada Johnson, Ruth Nowlan, Judy Sargfield, Anita Holmes, Catherine Smith and Joyce Smith.

There will be no visitation or service at Marie’s request. Interment will take place in Sunny Bank Cemetery, Fredericton, NB, at a later date. For those who wish, remembrances may be made to the Kidney Foundation of New Brunswick or to a charity of the donor’s choice. Personal condolences may be offered through www.yorkfh.com