Mary Catherine Murphy

Mary C. Murphy (née Daly) was called to Eternal Life on October 27, 2024 at Greenspring Continuing Care Community in Springfield, Virginia.
Mary was born on September 10,1928 at Mercy Hospital in Springfield, Massachusetts to Patrick and Brigid Daly (née O'Connor), both of Dunq'in, County Kerry, Ireland. She grew up a parishioner of Sacred Heart Church in Springfield, and graduated Sacred Heart Academy.
Mary had the good fortune to marry the love of her life, the late Eugene "Dede" Murphy on her 21st birthday. Upon their marriage, Mary and Dede relocated to Washington, DC, where they started their family. They moved to Fairfax, Virginia on a snowy December day in 1957, where they raised their five children. Mary was a parishioner of St. Leo the Great Parish in Fairfax for the remainder of her life. She was a valued employee of Fairfax County Government for many years prior to her retirement in 1988.
Mary was passionate about her faith, and was devoted to her family. Many wonderful holidays and gatherings were spent in the kitchen and around the dining table on Forest Avenue. She was a fabulous cook and would serve up the most delicious food for her family, friends, and neighbors - you know who you are! Mary had an adventurous spirit and loved traveling the world with Dede in their retirement. They frequently visited their families in Dunquin and Ballyferriter and took many international trips to various locales such as (East and West) Germany, the former Yugoslavia, the former Soviet Union, England, Scotland, Wales, Spain, Morocco, Greece, Italy, as well as their beloved Paris, France.
Mary was loved by all who knew her. She is the last of the great generation of Murphy/Dalys to be called home to their heavenly reward, where she is no doubt being greeted with open arms by all of her loved ones who preceded her.
Mary is predeceased by her husband, Eugene "Dede" Murphy, her brother, Francis Daly, as well as by her 14 brothers and sisters in law. She is survived by her children: Jeanne Chartier (Bob) of Selbyville, DE; Eileen Suarez (Oscar) of Fairfax; Kathleen Garity (Don) of Burke, VA; Owen F. Murphy of St. Leonard, MD; Teresa Battin (Matt) of Medford, NJ, as well as her devoted sister-in-law, Eleanor Daly. She, "Meme", will be greatly missed by her beloved 11 grandchildren: Patti Worch (Mike); Jill Jeffries (Eddie); Kelly Sullivan (Nate); Hannah Garity; Owen F. Murphy, Jr.; Daniel Murphy (Catherine); Kate Stickford (Thomas); Mary Catherine Murphy; Kyle Battin; Julia Battin; Conor Battin, and by her 14 great grandchildren, Kane, Caroline, Preston, Declan, Tommy, Emily, Ashlynne, Chase, Camden, Danny, Layla, Vincent, Vanessa, and Grace. Mary will also be missed by her many nieces, nephews, friends, and neighbors who she adored, so many of whom visited her these past few years and brought her such joy.
Mary's Mass of Christian Burial will be on Monday, November 4, 2024 at 11am at St. Leo the Great Catholic Church, 3700 Blenheim Boulevard, Fairfax. Guest are invited to join the family in a Celebration of Mary's life at The Auld Shabeen, 3971 Chain Bridge Road, Fairfax, immediately following. Interment will take place at a later date at Arlington National Cemetery.
If you are inclined, memorial donations may be made in her memory to Mary's favorite charity: St. Jude's Research Hospital for Children, 501 St. Jude’s Place, Memphis, TN 38105, or online at https://www.stjude.org/donate/donate-to-st-jude.html, or to the Alzheimer's Association: 225 N. Michigan Ave, Floor 17, Chicago, IL, or online at alz.org.