Mary Ellen Murphy

Mary Murphy, 92, of Pompton Plains, passed away peacefully on February 21, 2026.

Born in Montclair, Mary spent her entire life in New Jersey. She lived in East Orange and Verona before eventually settling in Cedar Crest Senior Living Community in Pompton Plains.

Mary enjoyed a long and successful career as an educator. She graduated from Newark State Teacher's College (now Kean University) with a kindergarten/primary major and earned her master's in education from Seton Hall University. Mary then spent thirteen years in the elementary schools of her native East Orange before becoming District Language Arts Coordinator. She then moved to the Mahwah public school system, spending almost twenty years serving as Language Arts Coordinator, Elementary Supervisor, and finally Supervisor Curriculum K-12. After her retirement in 1992, Mary went on to teach as an education instructor at Felician University for eleven years.

Mary was well known for her community involvement and spirited activism, dedicating a large part her life to volunteering and community service. She lent her educational expertise to churches and served on parish committees and counsels. From 1965-1974, she served as the first lay volunteer director of the CCD program at Our Lady of the Lake Parish in Verona, with an enrollment of about 900 children. She also volunteered for the League of Women Voters in Montclair, the Voice of the Faithful, St. Barnabus Hospital, and the EIES of New Jersey.

After moving into her beloved home of Cedar Crest, Mary continued her work by acting as the director of the Newcomers Committee, volunteering for the Democratic Club, and supporting many members of the community with her helpful and lively spirit. Mary always went out of her way to help, guide, and connect those around her. Her loving fortitude allowed Mary to continue making contributions to Cedar Crest up until the end of her life.

Mary is survived by her companion Ed McGann, her niece Erika Murphy, her cousins Anne Merryfield and Joe Healey, her sister-in-law Cathy Murphy, and all her treasured friends.

Memorial visitation will be held from 10 am to 11 am on Monday, March 16, 2026 at Cedar Crest Chapel in Pompton Plains. A memorial Mass will be celebrated at 11am in the chapel following the visitation period.

In lieu of flowers, donations in Mary's memory can be send to Raphael's Life House, PO Box 491, Cranford, NJ 07016, https://covenanthousenj.org/find-support/raphaels-life-house/