A stalwart member of the downtown business community has passed away.
Irene Murphy, the long-time owner of Irene’s Souvenirs & Gift Shop on Water Street, lost her battle with cancer on October 11th at the age of 82.
Murphy owned the popular gift shop for 29 years, delighting locals and tourists alike with a collection of treasures she and her husband George thought would tickle shoppers’ fancy.
The couple ran Murphy’s on St. Thomas’ Line from 1974 to 1986 after which they opened Irene’s in downtown St. John’s. When George passed in 2013, Irene ran the store with the help of her daughter Wanda – who will continue her legacy on Water Street.