Mary Murphy

STERLING -- Mary Elizabeth (Donlon) Murphy, 82, of 1 Abbey Lane, Sterling, former longtime Fitchburg and Leominster resident, died on Monday, Oct. 22, in the LifeCare Center of Leominster.

Her husband of 58 years, James E. Murphy, died in 2006.

Mary was a sales associate at the former Rogers in the Square in Fitchburg for 20 years, retiring in 1992. She was a former member of St. Bernard’s Parish in Fitchburg and a member of St. Richard of Chichester Parish in Sterling, and was a 1944 graduate of St. Bernard’s Central Catholic High School.

She was born in Hyde Park in Boston on May 15, 1925, a daughter of the late John A. and Mary A. (McAneany) Donlon, and lived in Sterling for the past 15 years.

The family would like to thank Dr. Ashraf Elkerm and his staff of Summit Elder Care Center in Leominster and the staff of LifeCare Center of Leominster for their compassionate care.

Mary will be remembered for her compassion, spirituality and faith.

She leaves two sons, Martin F. Murphy of Sterling and John C. Murphy and his wife, Deborah, of Leominster; her daughter and son-in-law, with whom she lived, Ann Murphy-Racine and her husband, Roger E. Racine, and Colleen F. Murphy and her husband, James R. McConnon, of Westport, Conn.; her twin sister and best friend, Winefred T. Hodge of Fitchburg; 10 grandchildren, John Murphy Jr. of Leominster, Meagan Deyo of Rindge, N.H., Kristen Nunez of Fitchburg, Elizabeth Murphy of Leominster, Kathleen Murphy of Leominster, Jan Lorenz of Hudson, Aaron Lorenz of San Diego, Calif., Evan McConnor of Danbury, Conn., and Patrick McConnor and Angus McConnon, both of Ridgefield, Conn.; five great-grandchildren, Cody and Kendyl Murphy and Autumn, Skylar and Jon Deyo; and several nieces and nephews and grandnieces and grandnephews. She was predeceased by one brother, Andrew F. Donlon of Leominster, who died in 2002; and one sister, Catherine F. O’Brien of Fitchburg, who died in 1978.

MURPHY -- Her funeral will be held on Thursday, Oct. 25, from the Smith- Mallahy-Masciarelli Funeral Home, 243 Water St., Fitchburg, with a Mass at 10 a.m. in St. Bernard’s Church, 240 Water St., Fitchburg. Burial will be in St. Bernard’s Cemetery, Fitchburg. Calling hours at the funeral home will be on Wednesday, Oct. 24, from 5-7 p.m. In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be made to the Worcester Diocese Catholic Mass on Television, 49 Elm St., Worcester, MA 01609, or may be left at the funeral home. See masciarellifamilyfuneralhomes.net for further information.