Margaret B. Murdock

TEMPLETON - Margaret B. (Bishop) Murdock passed away on March 8, 2018 at the Baldwinville Nursing Home at the age of 94. She was born in Wakefield, MA on November 25, 1923, the daughter of the late Joseph W. Bishop and Mabel (Glynn) Bishop. Her family moved to Gardner, MA in August of 1932. She attended Sacred Heart School and graduated and went on to Gardner High School, graduating in the class of 1941. The summer of her senior year, she was asked to model for outdoor furniture made by one of the old, long gone furniture companies of Gardner. Her first job was at the Telephone Company in Gardner, working there for a year. She left there to work for the Metropolitan Insurance Company, where she worked directly with agents as a secretary for seven years. She married the love of her life, George E. Murdock, on April 19, 1947. They lived in Gardner for a short while before moving and building a home in Baldwinville, MA. They lived together there for just shy of fifty years before George passed away on September 13, 1996. Margaret remained in their home for another nineteen and a half years before becoming a resident of the Baldwinville Nursing Home. Margaret was always community minded. During World War Two, while still working full time at the Metropolitan, she trained in the evenings and became a nursing assistant. She volunteered nights, after her workday was done, at the Henry Heywood Memorial Hospital. After she was married and their first child, Patricia, was born, she and George decided she would stay at home and devote her time to raising their children. A second child, Barbara, arrived about a year and a half later. Margaret devoted her time to her family. She loved being a wife, mother and homemaker. She supported all her daughters’ school events and athletic endeavors and cooked many a meal for her daughters’ sports teams and proms. She taught catechism at St. Vincent de Paul Church in Baldwinville, worked for church events and chaired their annual festival one year. She was also both a Brownie and Girl Scout leader. She was a wonderful cook and enjoyed hosting many parties for family and friends. She also loved making comforting soups for any neighbor who was ill and complete meals for any neighbor who suffered a loss in their family. Later in her life she became a member of St. Martin’s Church and enjoyed many new friends. She was a member of their Craft Group and had fun working at the Christmas Fairs and Annual Family Festival. She was a long time member of the Henry Heywood Hospital Aide Association, baking for their events and volunteering at the original snack bar at the hospital. She was a member of the Gardner AARP and was a former secretary. She was a member of the former St. Martin’s Woman’s Club, as well as the Gardner, Templeton and Baldwinville Woman’s Clubs. She was a former member of the Holy Rosary Sodality and a member of the Red Hat Ladies. While at the Baldwinville Nursing Home, she was secretary of the Residential Council. During her life, Margaret Golfed, skied and bowled, until her psoriatic rheumatoid arthritis prevented her from continuing these activities. She accepted this fate with grace and understanding, as she was a most practical and understanding woman. At the age of 80 she declared she would no longer drive because she felt her arthritis was beginning to worsen and prevent her from being a safe driver. She gave up her license and, only as Mom would do, gave her car to her son-in-law, Stephen. She was predeceased by her parents, Joseph W. Bishop and Mabel Glynn Bishop; her husband, George E. Murdock; two sisters, Ruby Maynard and Jeannie Grace Ledger and her brother, Joseph W. Bishop, Jr. She leaves two daughters, Patricia and her husband Jack Cranston of Pennsylvania and their children, Michael; Nancy and her husband Gustov Hoyer and their children Nicholas, Lillian, Gretchen, Gabriel and Kurt; Beth and her husband Paul Sinkus and their children, Meghan and Thomas (TJ); daughter, Barbara and her husband Stephen and their sons, John and his wife Elizabeth, and Matthew. She also leaves grandchildren and great grandchildren through her grandson John’s marriage. Children she loved and felt great joy to have met and known; Ian Livingston, and his wife Christie and their children, Elaine, Charlotte and Henry (Hank); Kara Livingston and her sons Dominic and Xavier; Tyler Stanley and Heather, who just recently had a baby boy, Everett, who Margaret did not get to meet, but when told about the birth, said to send them her love. In total she leaves eight grandchildren and thirteen great grandchildren, who all knew her as, Nana. She leaves many wonderful nieces and nephews, who visited her often in her home and in the Nursing Home. She loved them all and they knew her as “Cissy”, a name given to her by her brother and sisters. She also leaves very special neighbors and friends, who were like family, Kathy, who lovingly called her “Auntie Murdock” and her husband, Wayne Salem and son, Kyle. And also her dear friend and roommate at the nursing home, Marie Quader. As Marie said, they were “ two peas in a pod”, always looking out for each other. In addition, she leaves many other wonderful and dear friends at the Baldwinville Nursing Home who showed great love compassion and visits during her hour of need. Margaret loved them all. The family wishes to most sincerely thank the wonderful staff of Unit One for the love, compassion and care of Margaret and to especially thank all the activity staff, whom she adored for making all her days happy and full of fun. Also, the family wishes to thank Beacon Hospice for their support and care. A Mass of Christian Burial will be held at St. Vincents de Paul Church, 1 Forrest Ave., Baldwinville, on Thursday, March 15, 2018 at 1 p.m. A calling hour will be from 11:30 am to 12:30 pm on Thursday, March 14, 2018 at the Lamoureux-Smith & Poliks Funeral Home, 105 Central Street, Gardner. In lieu of flowers, donations may be made in her memory to the Baldwinville Nursing Home Activity Fund, 51 Hospital Road, Baldwinville, MA 01436; or to St. Martin’s Church, 248 State Road, Otter River, MA 01436. Lamoureux-Smith & Poliks - A Mack Family Funeral Home, 105 Central St., Gardner is directing arrangements.