Lucille Muldoon

Lucille Muldoon (nee Shirtliff) was born in a farmhouse during a flood in Starbuck Manitoba on May 11, 1929 and died in Ottawa with her children at her side on April 4, 2022. She was the beloved wife of Frank (d 2013) and mother of Laura and Sean (Lynn Macphail). Lucille was “Grandma Doodie” to Seamus, Fiona and Moragh McDougall and Meghan and Adam Muldoon, and “Auntie Doodie” to over 30 nieces and nephews. Predeceased by her parents Stella (McDonnell) and Lewis, siblings Harold (Maisie), Rowena Lundman (Ed), Wilbur, Alvin (Pauline), and Angela Murphy her soulmate and twin sister. Survived by brother Ronald (Janet), sister Estelle Sinclair (late Don), brother-in-law George Murphy and sister-in-law Florence. 

Lucille attended the small, rural elementary one-room Elm Bank School (founded by her grandfather) and later St Francis Xavier High School across the Assiniboine River from the family farm. She completed her BA, BPed and BEd at the University of Manitoba and went on to teach every grade except Grade 2 in Winnipeg schools, finishing her career there as a Resource Teacher.  Frank and Lucille moved to Ottawa in 1977 where Lucille started her “second career” as a volunteer par excellence. Whether she was raising funds for “Save the Children”, working as a docent at the Canadian Museum of Civilization, or encouraging diplomatic spouses to try snow shoeing with CFUW Ottawa, she brightened everyone around her with kindness, good-humour and hard work. Book club(s – plural), gourmet cooking club(s), bridge club(s), sewing fabulous outfits, and entertaining kept her busy and happy in her spare time.

Lucille’s real calling was as mother, aunt and grandmother.  She made her house a welcoming and safe home for all her many relatives and taught us all about the importance of family ties. She would tackle any task, large or small, with skill and optimism and could probably have moved mountains if she put her mind to it. She was a wonderful role model of kindness and strength.  She was a regular churchgoer who appreciated and depended on her faith community.

The family thanks the staff at the Rockcliffe Retirement Residence for their attentive care while she was a resident there. Nieces Nancy and Marta deserve special mention for all the support they provided in the past 2 years. 

Friends and family may visit at the Central Chapel of Hulse, Playfair & McGarry, 315 McLeod Street, Ottawa on Sunday, April 10, 2022 from 3pm to 5pm.  At the family’s request guests are asked to be masked and proof of vaccine will be required on entry.
A Funeral Mass will be celebrated at Resurrection of Our Lord Roman Catholic Church, 1940 Saunderson Drive, Ottawa on Monday, April 11, 2022 at 10am.  

If you wish to remember Lucille with a donation, the family requests that it be made to University of Manitoba Student Emergency Bursaries. 

View a video tribute Celebrating the Life of Lucille Muldoon