Marian R. Murphy

1933 - 2023

Marian R. Murphy
1933 - 2023
Holyoke
Marian Ruth Murphy, formerly of Holyoke, died on July 29, 2023 at The Enclave of Scarborough, Maine, after a long illness. Born in Westfield, Massachusetts, she was raised in South Hadley, the daughter of James and Sara O'Connell, and attended South Hadley schools. She graduated from Framingham State College and began her teaching career at the New Carew Street School. She received her M.A. in Education from the University of Massachusetts. After marrying Christopher Murphy in 1959, she continued her teaching career in Holyoke until her retirement in 1994 as reading coordinator at the H.B. Lawrence School.
After her retirement from teaching, Marian revived an old career ambition, becoming a newspaper reporter and columnist for the weekly Hello Holyoke. She proved herself an intrepid reporter on the Holyoke social beat and her column "From a Distance," which reflected on personal experiences, local events, and the constant changes of life in a small city was widely read. She was active in Quota International for several years, serving a two-year term as President and four years as District Governor. As part of her Quota service, she travelled to Australia, Canada, and Vail, Colorado, relishing the voyages and the companionship of her fellow Quotarians.
With her husband, Chris, who predeceased her, she raised three children. She was also predeceased by her son, Christopher, in 2018. She is survived by her daughters, Sara (John McInerney) of New York City and Carolyn Baron (Jim) of Scarborough, and her granddaughter, Grace Baron.
The family would like to express their immense gratitude to the wonderful staff of The Enclave for their unfailing care, grace, and patience over the last four and a half years, and to the hospice nurses of Compassus of Scarborough for making the last months of Marian's life comfortable and happy.
A Mass of Christian Burial will be held for Marian on Friday, August 4th at 11:00 am at Blessed Sacrament Church, 1945 Northampton Street, Holyoke, followed by burial in Saint Rose Cemetery, Granby Road, South Hadley. There are no calling hours and the Barry J. Farrell Funeral Home is assisting the family.