Enda Alexander Murray

It is with tremendous grief that we announce the passing of Enda Murray on Sunday, March 15, 2026 at the age of 85.

He is survived by his daughter Grace (Ric) Murray, Shauna (Marc) Laurin, Teresa (Kelly) Phillips and his brother, Francey Murray, and sisters, Gemma Rice and Grania Ashworth. He leaves behind 5 grandchildren, Rileigh and Brett Laurin, Caoilainn Davis, and Aoife and James Phillips.  He was predeceased by his parents, John and Grace, his brother JP, sister Theresa, and his beloved wife, Rachael, passing peacefully on her birthday with his daughters by his side.

Dad fought a tough battle after Mom passed. He moved to the big city to be closer to family, faced a return of his prostate cancer that brought him to St. Boniface Hospital for six weeks, and later spent time at Grace Hospice, where he remarkably outlived his expected three month stay. In the end, he was able to live in the home he had purchased just one block from his daughters. Through it all, he battled the ups and downs of his diagnosis while dreaming of using his snowblower again and planting raspberries beside his new home.

Enda and Rachael came to Canada from Northern Ireland in 1968. Both were training to become psychiatric nurses at Muckamore Abbey and met at a Friday night dance at Hall’s Hotel in Antrim. They were married on July 27, 1968, in Little Flower Chapel in Belfast.

Responding to a call for psychiatric nurses to come to Manitoba, posted in the Irish News, they arrived in Portage la Prairie in August 1968. The pair spent most of their careers working at the Manitoba Developmental Centre (MDC), bringing with them experience, compassion, and perspective that would benefit many residents.

Enda was born in Moneyglass, Co. Antrim, Northern Ireland. For a man who loved learning, he disliked school as a boy. The cliché stories of walking miles to school, hungry and with holes in your boots, were all too true for him. His days didn’t end when school did. Alongside his other love, Dolly the donkey, he worked odd jobs up and down the lane, helped tend the family farm, and later cut turf in the bogs.

Dad never stopped working. Even in retirement he continued cutting trees and clearing lots for a local contractor. He was an avid gardener, always competing with his friend Carl to grow the earliest tomatoes.

He was an excellent teacher and instilled a do-it-yourself mindset in anyone willing to watch and learn. He was the neighbourhood vet, local mechanic, tree feller, handyman, barber, and even artist. There wasn’t much he couldn’t do, except calculate compound interest – mom did the math.

He had high expectations of those around him, but only because he believed in them. With a mix of colourful language, reverse psychology, and an encouraging pat on the back, he set the bar high so others would rise to meet it.

We’ll remember weekly card nights, arm wrestling and tests of strength, the affectionate teasing, the challenges, dares and bets he usually lost, the double-or-nothings and rubber matches, badminton sucker shots, boxing lessons, his famous pancakes, wheel barrel rides and impromptu dances. Most of all, we will remember how well he cared for mom, the many lessons we learned, his goodwill, strength of character, and faith he instilled in his loved ones. He was a good example to the very end.

The family would like to acknowledge and thank the many friends who visited and cared for Enda over the past year. A special thank you to the team at Grace Hospice, Palliative in the Community, and to his health care aids at Prime Medical, whose kindness and care meant so much to all of us in his final months.

The Funeral Mass will be held at Good Shepherd Parish 1125 Saskatchewan Ave E, Portage la Prairie, MB on Saturday, March 21, 2026 at 10:30 a.m.

In lieu of flowers, donations can be made to Operation Smile Canada, 375 University Ave Suite 204, Toronto, ON M5G 2J5.  

To share memories or leave condolences, please visit www.ronaldmoffitmemorialservices.com

Ronald Moffit Memorial Services of Portage la Prairie, MB in care of arrangements.

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