Ann Prior Murphy

Ann Prior Murphy (89) of Fairfax, Virginia and formerly of West Hartford, died September 27th at her home in Fairfax. Ann was born in New Britain to the late Augustine and Clarida LeVasseur Prior. After her marriage to Robert F. Murphy (Bob), she lived in Old Saybrook and Plainville, before moving to West Hartford in 1972. After the death of her husband in 2011, Ann moved to Fairfax to be closer to her daughter Cate and her family.

When living in Plainville she was the town correspondent for the Hartford Courant. She was a graduate of New Britain High School and graduated in 1957 from St. Vincent School of Nursing, Bridgeport. She worked as a registered nurse at New Britain General Hospital and Hartford Hospital.

In 1987, Ann left bedside nursing to join Travelers Insurance Companies patient advocate program as a case manager. She later worked in the same capacity at United Healthcare.

In her retirement, Ann liked to walk four miles a day with her crew of Mary, Joe, and Diane and she liked to garden. She was a member of the Red Hat Society and the West Hartford Garden Club.

Ann is survived by her children: Margaret Murphy and her husband, Michael Gustafson, of West Hartford; Catherine (Cate) Lione and her husband, David, of Clifton, Virginia; Albert J. Murphy and his wife, Carmen Slaybaugh, of West Hartford; and Anthony Murphy and his wife, Gwen, of Cody, Wyoming. Ann had fifteen grandchildren and twelve great-grandchildren. She was predeceased by her husband, Bob, her siblings, and a grandson and a great-granddaughter.

Ann will be interred next to her husband at Mount St. Benedict Cemetery, Bloomfield. There are no calling hours and a funeral Mass will take place on October 25, 2025. Memorial donations may be made to Elizabeth Park Conservancy (ElizabethParkCt.org). The park, and its rose gardens, was one of Ann and Bob's favorite places. Fairfax Memorial Funeral Home, Fairfax, Virginia has care of the arrangements (fairfaxmemorialfuneralhome.com).