Dorothy M. Murphy

SOUTH YARMOUTH — In June, Dot Murphy sat in her favorite red chair in her apartment at Whitehall Estate in Hyannis and listened attentively as the Hospice nurse described how her daily routine would be altered by the recent diagnosis that she had advanced stage lung cancer. She waited patiently for the nurse to finish. Then, she politely explained why she might not be able to adapt to the Hospice schedule as she had too much to do. She had to prepare and rehearse for the piano performances she presented every Wednesday and Sunday evenings for the residents at Whitehall. She had several paintings to complete for the next art exhibit and she had been asked to participate once again in the fashion show at the end of the month. Moreover, she had to allow for the many relatives and friends who visited her on weekends and often escorted her to dinner at the Dolphin or the Yarmouth Inn. Of course, she had to watch the Red Sox and prepare for the Patriots. Dot Murphy was 97 years old.

Dorothy Mary Murphy was one of five children born to Mary Josephine Keefe and Frank Michael Fitzwilliam. She was born in 1911 and raised in Mattapan. After graduating from Hyde Park High School in 1928, she worked for several years in the field of retailing as a saleswomen, decorator and model. In 1938, Dot married David Henry Murphy from Dorchester. She and David raised five children in Saint Gregory's parish until David's sudden death in 1968.

Dot then re-located to South Yarmouth and obtained a sales position at Filene's in Hyannis. She joined the Cape Cod Art Association and the Yarmouth Art Guild and participated in many art exhibits sponsored by these organizations. She became an active member of St. Pius X Church and often played the piano for various church activities. She continued taking art courses and also taught technique of water color painting at her home in Captain's Village.

Dot leaves behind Jean Tucker of West Yarmouth; David H. Murphy Jr., and his wife, Cindy, of South Yarmouth; Maryanne Daley and her husband, Peter, of Sterling; Ellen Murphy of Quincy; Dorrie O'Brien and her husband, Richard, of Quincy. Dot was the grandmother of Jennifer and Zachary Tucker; Erin Hill and David W. Murphy; Justin, Brian and Maura Daley; and the great-grandmother of Alexandra and Charlotte Hill and Daniel Murphy. Dot had many nieces and nephews as well as grandnieces and grandnephews, all of whom played an active role in her life.

Dorothy Mary (Fitzwilliam) Murphy, 97, died on July 29, 2008, the date of her late husband's birthday, at the Falmouth home of her daughter and son-in-law.

Visitation will be held on Sunday, Aug. 3, from 2 to 6 p.m., at the Morris & O'Connor Funeral Home, 58 Long Pond Drive, South Yarmouth. A funeral Mass will be celebrated on Monday at 10 a.m. at St. Pius X Church, South Yarmouth, followed by burial at Ancient Cemetery, Yarmouthport.

In lieu of flowers, please consider making a donation in Dot's name to Hospice & Palliative Care of Cape Cod, 765 Attucks Lane, Hyannis, MA 02601.