Helen Duffy Murphy

1947 Winter Carnival Queen of the Snows Of St. Paul passed away peacefully April 20, 2011, in her home surrounded by family. She was 86. Helen was preceded in death by her parents, Helen Cox Duffy and Harry Duffy; her in-laws, Edward L. Murphy Sr. and May McGinnis Murphy; sister Mary Bohlman; brothers-in-law Richard G. Donovan Sr., Joe Hines, and Reiny Bohlman; and four-legged family members, Wimp and Lucky. She is survived by her husband of 63 years Richard T. Murphy Sr.; children Laurie Murphy of St. Paul; Richard T. Murphy Jr. (Kay) of Minneapolis; Patrick Duffy Murphy (Dawn Squillace) of St. Paul; Sharon Murphy Garber (David Garber) of Deephaven; Moe Murphy Aro (Brian Bernhardt) of Duluth; and Myrna Lee Maurer of White Stone, Virginia; grandchildren: Gordon Bowers III; Alexandra, Tenner, Libby, and Madigan Murphy; Josh, Ben, and Tommy Garber; and Bailey Murphy Aro; sister Eileen Donovan; dear friends, Virginia and Russ Tschida, Mary Bredenberg and Tommy Broneak; and faithful dogs, Jack and Duffy. A special thank you to her beloved health care assistants Estella and Ellen. She was born March 1, 1925 to Helen Cox Duffy and Harry Duffy. In 1943 she graduated from St. Paul Central High School, then worked as a teller at Minnesota Federal. In 1947 she became the St. Paul Winter Carnival Queen of the Snows. She went on to serve as President and lifelong member of the Former Queens Club, hosting the Queens Tea in her home for over 35 years. In 1948, Helen married Richard T. Murphy and became a "Proud Irish Mom." Her lifelong passion was baseball, starting when she was a little girl going to St. Paul Saints games at Lexington Park with her father. She was a passionate and devoted Twins and Yankees fan. Since 1961, she NEVER missed a Twins game on radio or TV! She excelled at oil painting and golf, was a Kildysart Bridge Club member since 1972 and an "avid" letter-to-the-editor writer. She loved Minnesota's North Shore. Helen was a devout Catholic, attending daily Mass all her life. As a member of Nativity of Our Lord and IHM in St. Paul, she served with numerous organizations, including the Altar and Rosary Society, Catholic Parents Online, and Lady of the Knights of the Holy Sepulchre. She pioneered the St. Paul Pro-Life Movement, founded the Catholic Learning Society, Citizen Community Action, and Bobblehead Saints Inc. Helen was an active and lifelong member of the Guild of Catholic Women. She was involved with the Summit Avenue Residential Preservation Association and was for many years a Como Zoo Docent, raising wild animal cubs, including lions, tigers, bears, leopards and jaguars. In 2000 she, along with her husband, commissioned and donated a bronze statue of St. Paul the Apostle to the Cathedral of St. Paul. Her generosity garnered her the 1989 Sal Labianco Winter Carnival Volunteer of the Year Award, the American Council of Catholic Women Volunteer of the Year Award, and the Catholic Defense League Couples Award. Mass of Christian Burial 11 AM, Saturday, May 14, 2011, at Nativity of Our Lord Catholic Church (324 Prior Avenue, St. Paul). Visitation 4-8 PM, Friday, May 13, at O'Halloran and Murphy Funeral Home (575 S. Snelling Ave, Saint Paul, 651-698-0796). Interment at Resurrection Cemetery. Memorials preferred to her lifelong passion of the mentally ill, Guild Incorporated: Administrative Offices, 130 South Wabasha St. Suite 90, St. Paul, Minnesota 55107 http://www.guildincorporated.org/donate, Happy Mother's Day, Mom!