Search by Name

Search by Name

Joanna J. Murphy

1916 - 2012

Joanna J. Murphy obituary, 1916-2012

Joanna Murphy Obituary

Joanna J. Murphy, a long-time La Jolla resident and a familiar figure in downtown shops and restaurants, passed away September 27, 2012, at the age of 96.
Mrs. Murphy, who was born in New York's Greenwich Village on April 8, 1916, spent much of the past three decades residing on Eads Avenue, Paseo del Ocaso and Chateau La Jolla. She moved to Las Villas del Norte, a retirement community, in Escondido last year and passed away there after a months-long illness.
Mrs. Murphy's colorful life began in Manhattan as Joanna Janice Wirska. There she graduated from Washington Irving High School, received her RN degree at St. Mary's School of Nursing in Brooklyn and also attended St. John's University.
She married Edmond G. Murphy at St. Thomas Aquinas Church in Brooklyn on April 14, 1942. When her husband went to war as a lieutenant commander on the USN Saratoga, Mrs. Murphy served as a Veteran's Administration nurse from 1942-44 in Chillicothe, Ohio, San Francisco and Palo Alto. As the war ended, the couple lived in Coronado, falling in love with the beauty of San Diego County and welcoming their first child.
After the war, the Murphy's settled on Long Island and raised four children. Mrs. Murphy pursued hobbies in painting and gardening while her husband worked in finance, rising to president of the Lincoln Savings Bank in Brooklyn. Intent on retiring in California, they bought a home in Coronado in 1969, but Mr. Murphy passed away in 1971.
Over the next 41 years, Mrs. Murphy moved from New York to Coronado, La Jolla, Elkhart, IN, Seattle, Lake Forest, IL; and Rhinebeck, NY, to be near her children, but kept returning to her beloved La Jolla. She enjoyed shopping and dining in the village, often calling her children to share details of a rare find or a great meal. She will be remembered by her neighbors at Chateau La Jolla for her friendly smile and stylish attire.
Mrs. Murphy is survived by two daughters, Joan I. Caine of Seattle and Barbara J. Petersen of San Diego; two sons, Edmond G. Murphy Jr. of Poughkeepsie, NY, and Thomas J. Murphy of Larkspur, CA; six grandchildren; nine great-grandchildren; sister, Leona; niece, Terry; and nephews, John, Theodore and Richard. Her sister, Teresa, preceded her in death.
The family is planning private services and asks friends to honor her memory with a donation to a favorite charity.

To plant trees in memory, please visit the Sympathy Store.

Published by La Jolla Light from Oct. 5 to Nov. 9, 2012.

Memories and Condolences
for Joanna Murphy

Not sure what to say?





0 Entries

Be the first to post a memory or condolences.

Make a Donation
in Joanna Murphy's name

Please consider a donation as requested by the family.

Memorial Events
for Joanna Murphy

To offer your sympathy during this difficult time, you can now have memorial trees planted in a National Forest in memory of your loved one.

How to support Joanna's loved ones
Honor a beloved veteran with a special tribute of ‘Taps’ at the National WWI Memorial in Washington, D.C.

The nightly ceremony in Washington, D.C. will be dedicated in honor of your loved one on the day of your choosing.

Read more
Attending a Funeral: What to Know

You have funeral questions, we have answers.

Read more
Should I Send Sympathy Flowers?

What kind of arrangement is appropriate, where should you send it, and when should you send an alternative?

Read more
What Should I Write in a Sympathy Card?

We'll help you find the right words to comfort your family member or loved one during this difficult time.

Read more
Resources to help you cope with loss
Estate Settlement Guide

If you’re in charge of handling the affairs for a recently deceased loved one, this guide offers a helpful checklist.

Read more
How to Write an Obituary

Need help writing an obituary? Here's a step-by-step guide...

Read more
Obituaries, grief & privacy: Legacy’s news editor on NPR podcast

Legacy's Linnea Crowther discusses how families talk about causes of death in the obituaries they write.

Read more
The Five Stages of Grief

They're not a map to follow, but simply a description of what people commonly feel.

Read more
Ways to honor Joanna Murphy's life and legacy
Obituary Examples

You may find these well-written obituary examples helpful as you write about your own family.

Read more
How to Write an Obituary

Need help writing an obituary? Here's a step-by-step guide...

Read more
Obituary Templates – Customizable Examples and Samples

These free blank templates make writing an obituary faster and easier.

Read more
How Do I Write a Eulogy?

Some basic help and starters when you have to write a tribute to someone you love.

Read more