Maria Claudia Murphy

Murphy, Maria Claudia, went to the Lord on July 5, 2012. She was born on September 7, 1966 in Bogota, Colombia; daughter of Dr. Mario and Martha Bastian Valderrama, both deceased. She leaves behind her loving husband Francis (Frank) Murphy of 9 years and devoted son Diego Perez. She was predeceased by her brother Saul Valderrama and survived by Siblings; Mario Gomez (Martha), Mario Valderrama, Marta Valderrama and Miguel Valderrama (Maria Eugenia) and Saul's wife Sandra. Claudia majored in Engineering at Universidad de America, an enthusiasm that would continue throughout her life. She came to the United States; to her mother's native New Jersey when she was 18 years old with her husband Luis Alejandro Tellez, with whom she had her son Diego, the joy and soul of her life. A mother is rarely closer to her son whom see raised as a single parent until her marriage to Nelson Perez. Claudia's passion for family and love of nature intertwined in her relationship with her husband Frank Murphy whom she met in 1998. Together they shared a home in Coral Springs, Florida with her son and Frank's two daughters, Allison and Lauren Murphy. She was an avid naturalist, raising all types of reptiles from bearded dragons and lizards to even nursing a baby alligator back to health before releasing into the wild. She loved her pets including Sox the cat, her two birds and especially her two dogs Nikita and Duke. Claudia will be remembered for her generous heart and the fullness to which she lived her life. She worked tirelessly making sure that her friends and family were happy and taken care of. She was the first one to volunteer to help out if someone took ill or needed and extra hand. She was quick with a smile, a hug, advice or her beautiful laugh. She made herself available to those in need including community volunteer work. Claudia left a legacy of how to live a life with kindness, appreciation and excitement. In addition to her immediate family she is also survived by her mother-in-law Rose Murphy, brothers-in-law Dennis Murphy (Rose), Kevin Murphy (Susie), Edward Murphy (Ellen) and sister-in-law Barbara Murphy Dudley as well as numerous cousins, nieces and nephews - a broken hearted family. A funeral service will be held on Saturday August 4, at 1 p.m. at St Gregory's Catholic Church 200 N. University Dr. Plantation, FL. Cremation will follow, and as per her wishes, her ashes will be scattered on Laguna de Guatavita, in Bogota, Colombia. Memorial donations in the memory of Maria Claudia Murphy may be made to the Sawgrass Nature Center and Wildlife Hospital (www.sawgrassnaturecenter.org). Arrangements entrusted to T.M. Ralph Plantation Funeral Home 954-587-6888