Constance Ann Murphy Gridley

GRIDLEY, Constance (Connie) Ann Murphy
Age 85, of Albany, NY, died very peacefully in her apartment at the Avila Retirement Community, where she was a committed citizen, on Friday, August 8th, a day the Chinese consider the most auspicious day of the century, surrounded by her priest, dear friends, and her daughter, Maryanne; and son-in-law, Charles Klaer. Connie was a woman of Sisyphean fortitude. In her later years, she broke her right hip twice and fractured her left knee as well. Each time she valiantly took on the arduous physical and water therapy challenge leading to returned mobility. After being diagnosed with cancer in 2007, with Maryanne and Chuck, she took her first European vacation this spring to France's Brittany near Treguier, Nargis on the Loire and gamely followed her walker throughout the sights, restaurants, pastry shops and museums of Paris. She was born in Brooklyn, NY, March 7, 1923, daughter of Lawrence and Anna Terrace Murphy. She was predeceased by her sister, Alice Murphy Patterson; brothers, Robert A. Murphy, Lawrence V. Murphy Jr. and Michael M. Murphy, all of Bay Ridge, Brooklyn, NY. She was the active partner and loving wife of John C. Gridley who died in 1994 after a lengthy career as Chemung County Executive, Chairman of the Chemung County Board of Supervisors, past City Manager of Elmira and Saratoga County Manager, and Deputy Commissioner of the New York State Office of Local Government. Throughout her life she remained active as a volunteer and pursuing interests as a skilled seamstress, knitter, gardener, swimmer, and card player. She is survived by her daughter, Maryanne Gridley; son-in-law, Charles Klaer; and cat, Annie of Altamont NY; her nephew, Philip and his wife, Maria Paterson and their children, Dean and Gabrialle of New Jersey; and her niece, Anne Eichenger and her daughter, Tiffany Rossels and Tiffany's children, Morgan and Isabella of Colorado. Friends are invited to a Memorial Mass, Friday, August 15th at 2 p.m. at the Church of Saint Vincent de Paul, 900 Madison Avenue, Albany, New York 12208. Interment of Connie's ashes will take place in Woodlawn Cemetery, Elmira, NY. In lieu of flowers, contributions might be made to the Avila Retirement Community Staff Christmas bonus fund. Arrangements by Baker Family Funeral Home.