Obituary of Donna Kemp

Donna Jean Kemp (nee Murdock)

July 11, 1946 – November 3, 2024

Donna Murdock was born in Fredricton, New Brunswick, to Viola and Joseph Murdock.  She grew up in Fredricton with her younger brother Gary and younger sister Gail.  She graduated from Fredricton High School and was working in Fredricton when she met Barry Kemp through mutual friends.  In short order they fell in love and got married in 1968, moving to Germany shortly after as Barry was a soldier.  Donna and Barry had two sons, Chris and Trevor, and managing the family was Donna's primary passion.  The military took them all over Canada for the first 32 years of Donna and Barry's marriage, until he retired to Lincoln, New Brunswick in 1998, essentially back where they had started out.  The couple moved to Brandon in 2016 to be near their boys and grandchildren.  She was a devoted wife and mother.  She loved to knit, crochet, and bake – Donna made a hell of a pie and a great lasagne.  She enjoyed crafts and bingo, bowled for years, and hosted a basement full of teenagers for many years.  She loved being a grandmother and great grandmother, an aunt and great aunt, and an honorary family member to the children of friends.  Donna made friends on every base she lived on during her military wife career, and maintained some of those friendships to the end of her life.  Sandy and Karen, we're looking at you, as well as Karen, Carol, Julie, and others. 

Donna was predeceased by her parents and by Barry.  She is survived by her sons Chris (Lori) and Trevor, grandchildren Damien Wannop (Anne Wolfe) and Joss Kemp, great grandchildren Jax, Kai, and Noah Wannop, brother Gary (Carol) Murdock, sister Gail (Esmond) Cavanaugh, nephew Jeff (Lisa) Murdock, nephew Joey (Heather) Cavanaugh, niece Amanda (Jeff) Easton, great nieces Sumer Cavanaugh, Maggie Murdock, Lauren Murdock, Savanna Cavanaugh, and Brooklyn Easton.

A small private family service will be held. In lieu of flowers, the family asks for donations to be made to the Manitoba Lung Association by visiting their website at www.mb.lung.ca.