Obituary of Louise Catherine Burns-Murray
BURNS-MURRAY, Louise Catherine
1947 – 2023
It is with enormous sadness that our family announces the death of Louise on Wednesday, May 31, 2023 after a brief stay in hospital. As in life, Louise was surrounded by a loving family at the time of her death, telling stories and singing songs. Her spirit lifted off to the sounds of “You are my Sunshine.” We did not see this coming. Louise was a beautiful person and deserved many more years with her friends and family. We cannot believe she is gone—she is everywhere in our hearts and minds. One never thinks that they will have to write an obituary about someone so deeply loved and who will be so sadly missed by everyone that her life touched—anyway, we will give it our best shot.
Louise was born in Regina at the Grey Nuns Hospital (now Pasqua) on November 25, 1947. Apart from a three-year stint in Ottawa, Louise lived her entire life in the “Queen City.” She attended St. PiusX Elementary School, received her high school education at Marian High School and shortly thereafter received her Registered Nursing Degree through the RN Program at the Grey Nuns Hospital. Following that, she married her “significant other,” Derek Murray on December 28, 1968, and then all the fun began!
While “attending“to Derek for the rest of her life, Louise managed to accomplish a number of significant things. The first of those to flow were her three sons, Aaron, Brian, and Ben and from there everything else followed. Louise’s career focused on community and women’s issues. Following her nursing career in Regina and Ottawa, she spent several years as the Assistant Director of Transition House and Director of Housing for the YWCA. She was also the Chair of the Advisory Council on the Status of Women for Saskatchewan. Louise found time to pursue an entrepreneurial endeavor with her longtime friend, Deanna Elias Henry—Elias Burns Inspirations, a gift shop that was located on 2100 Block of Albert Street in Regina. Louise was the community worker for the Cathedral Area Community Association, where she was involved in a major neighborhood infill housing initiative with CMHC that was considered to be one of the most innovative in Canada. Among her favourite volunteer activities was with the Saskatchewan Health Authority’s TeleFriend Program. Louise was still active in this program up to the time of her death. For eight years, she phoned a group of women every Wednesday morning to check in with them to see how they were doing. Like countless others, these women are really going to miss her.
Louise is survived by her husband Derek (the luckiest guy on earth); sons Aaron and spouse Erin (Regina), Brian (Edmonton) and Ben (Regina); brothers Patrick (Vancouver), Terry and spouse Rosemary (Whitehorse), John and spouse Veronique (Namur, Belgium), Bill and spouse Krys (Toronto) and Michael and spouse Elizabeth (Regina); sister Yvette and spouse Ken (Barrie); brother-in-law Dale and spouse Judy (Victoria); honorary children Myka and spouse John (Edmonton) and Nick (Regina); grandchildren Anica, Brody and spouse Brenna, Nathan, Maeve and August, Lenny and Arlo; and great grandchild Belle. She also leaves countless in-laws, cousins, and other relatives. Sorry, but the list is too long to mention everybody.
Louise is predeceased by her parents, Wilfrid, and Emma Burns; brothers Kevin and Neil Burns; sister Aline Pappas; brother-in-law Ernie Pappas; and our beloved family dog, Soo. We can only imagine the reunion that will be taking place upstairs.
A Celebration of Louise’s Life will take place at the Hotel Saskatchewan Ball Room, 2125 Victoria Avenue, Regina, SK, on June 28, 2023, at 7:00 p.m. In lieu of flowers, charitable donations can be made to the Provincial Association of Transition Houses and Services (PATHS) of Saskatchewan (Louise Burns-Murray Memorial Fund), PATHS Suite 202, 1102-8 Avenue, Regina, SK S4R 1C9 or e-transfer paths@sasktel.net. PATHS is a registered charity and tax receipts will be provided to donors.
