Donna M. Appleby

Donna May (Murphy) Appleby, 65, of Martin’s River, passed away on Wednesday, December 31, 2014 after a valiant battle with Multiple Myeloma. Her beloved husband, Gordon, held her hand as her beautiful soul left the earth.

Born in Halifax on April 5, 1949, she was the second daughter of Shirley Marion (Graham) Murphy and the late Donald John Murphy.

Donna grew up in Dartmouth, where she attended school and trained to become a hair stylist. She and Gordon married on June 1, 1968. Donna and Gordon moved to Martin’s River in 1974, where they raised their three children, and have lived there ever since. Donna had retired in recent years, but had previously worked at Silver’s Garage in Bridgewater for 23 years. Donna was an active member of her community. She was the President of the Ladies’ Auxiliary for the Martin’s River Fire Department, she was a member of the Basin Gardening Association, she participated in aqua aerobics classes with Lunenburg Elderfit, and she found comfort and special friendships in the Nova Scotia Multiple Myeloma Support Group. Donna was a NASCAR enthusiast and looked forward to annual trips to Loudon, NH, to watch the races. Donna cherished any time spent with family and friends and her absence will be forever felt by those who knew and loved her.

Donna is survived by her husband, Gordon Wayne Appleby; daughters, Theresa (Keith) and Kimberlea (Jason); son, Matthew; grandchildren, Gracyn, Jaeger, and Casey; step-grandchildren, Jacob and Jayden; mother, Shirley; sisters, Marilynn and Jacqueline; brother, Lawrence (Lisa); sisters-in-law, Patricia (James), Elizabeth (Keith), Donna (Francis); brother-in-law (Donald); nieces, Rachelle, Lauren, Kelsey, Danielle; nephews, Jeffrey, Alexander, Eric, Robert, David, Curtis, Brent, Edward, Timothy, William, Andrew, and Jeffrey, as well as grand-nieces and grand-nephews.

Donna was predeceased by her father, Donald Murphy; parents-in-law, Gordon and Ruth Appleby; sister-in-law, Donna Appleby, and nephew, Neil Fletcher.

The family would like to thank all of the doctors and medical staff at the Victoria General Hospital, who participated in Donna’s care and treatment. The family would also like to thank members of the Nova Scotia Multiple Myeloma Support Group, for your presence throughout Donna’s illness and the comfort and support she felt from you all. To all of Donna’s family and friends, your visits, prayers, cards, and thoughts were greatly appreciated and gratefully received.

Visitation will be held 2-4pm and 7-9pm, Tuesday, January 6, 2015 in Mahone Funeral Home, Mahone Bay. Funeral service will be held at 2pm, Wednesday, January 7, 2015 in Trinity United Church, Mahone Bay, Rev. Lee Simpson officiating. Reception to follow the service at Martin's River Fire Hall in Martin's River. Interment with the family will take place at a later date. In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to Myeloma Canada, www.myelomacanada.ca.

Arrangements entrusted to the care of Mahone Funeral Home, P.O. Box 200, 32 Parish St., Mahone Bay, NS B0J 2E0 Tel:902-624-8241. Online condolences may be sent to the family by visiting: www.mahonefuneral.ca