Zoe Lian Murphy

Obituary of Zoe Lian Murphy

The community mourns the untimely passing of Zoe Murphy at the age of 42, on Wednesday, December 31, 2025 at home, leaving family, friends, and countless admirers heartbroken by her loss. She was born and raised in Manhattan, Chelsea and the East Village before settling in Howell in 2018. Zoe worked as a Real Estate Assistant for The Murphy Team at FIND Real Estate. She was known as a devoted mother, a loyal friend, homemaker and passionate advocate for local animal shelters. She had a great passion for books, music & cooking. Everyone knows that any kind of sweets would make her happy, but her most noticeable trait was her fashion sense.

Zoe was a bright and joyful force in the lives of everyone she encountered. Known and loved by many across the city, she brought warmth, laughter, and energy wherever she went. Her kindness, quick wit, and vibrant spirit made her not only well known, but deeply treasured. Zoe had a rare gift for making people feel seen, valued, and truly welcome.

To her friends, Zoe was far more than a companion-she was a sister, a confidante, and a steadfast source of love and support. She formed meaningful connections with ease and left lasting impressions through her generosity of heart and authenticity. Her presence filled rooms, and her absence now leaves an ache that words can scarcely capture.

Though Zoe's life was taken far too soon, her legacy lives on through the countless memories, shared laughter, and moments of joy she gave so freely. She will always be remembered as a loving, luminous soul who made the world brighter simply by being herself.

Zoe Murphy will be forever missed, forever loved, and forever held in the hearts of all who knew her.

Zoe was predeceased by her aunts, Toktun Gugajew and Judy Finestone; maternal grandfather, Otschir Gugajew; paternal grandmother, Julia Murphy; and cousin, Paige Carton. Zoe is survived by her children, Layla Martineau and Jameson Higgins; parents, John Patrick Skip Murphy and Elizabeth Murphy; uncle, Jack Gugajew; uncle, Robert Gugajew; aunt, Sue Carton; uncle, Andy Carton; uncle, Richard Finestone; uncle, Jimmy Murphy; aunt, Julia Bunny Keaveney; uncle, Joseph Champ Murphy; cats, Peaches and Pebbles; many loving cousins, Ben & Sarah Finestone, Adrienne Schulman, Rachel Carton, Sonja Leventhal & Justin Gugajew, Briana & Megan Keaveney, Bridget, Sullivan, & Declan Murphy, friends and a community that will forever cherish her memory. While 42 years was far too few, the brightness of Zoe's life will continue to shine in the hearts of all who knew her.

Visitation will be held at the Clayton & McGirr Funeral Home, 100 Elton-Adelphia Road (Route 524), Freehold Township on Monday, January 12, 2026 from 8:30 to 9:30 AM. Relatives and friends are invited to her 10:00 AM Funeral Mass at the Church of St. Veronica, 4215 Route 9 North, Howell. For those that cannot attend in person, you may watch via Livestream HERE through the Church Website. Interment will follow in St. Vladimir Russian Orthodox Cemetery, 316 Cassville Road, Jackson. In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions in Zoe's name may be made to ASPCA, HERE. For information, directions, or to leave condolence messages to the family please visit www.claytonfuneralhome.com.