Obituary: Mary Murphy

Mrs. Murphy

Mrs. Murphy

Mary (Buonaiuto) Murphy of Prescott, Ariz., died peacefully on July 19, 2011. at Pleasant Valley Care Home. Born on April 24, 1914, in the Bronx, N.Y., she lived in Brooklyn, N.Y., for 57 years and in Charlotte, N.C., for 13 years before moving to Prescott two years ago.

Her husband, William Murphy, died in 1964.

She was active her whole life in religious and church organizations, politics and community affairs. At St. Patrick's Church in Brooklyn, she served as a member of the finance committee, as a teacher in the CCD program, a choir member and Eucharistic minister. She was honored at the St. Patrick's Founder's Ball in 1990 for her work on behalf of the parish and is still remembered for the artistry with which she decorated the altar at Christmas and Easter. She was a member of the Catholic Daughters of America and the Lioness Club and was elected as Democratic Party leader and State Committee member. At St. Anne's Church in Charlotte, she volunteered in the church office and served as a Eucharistic minister.

She is fondly remembered there by neighbors, friends and travel companions for her impromptu piano and ukulele concerts.

She is survived by her daughters, Patricia (Murphy) Reardon of Prescott and Mary Ellen (Murphy) Gaffney and her husband Ned of Florham Park, N.J.; her sons, William of Charlotte, N.C., and Paul and his wife Caroline of Punta Gorda, Fla.; nine grandchildren and 24 great-grandchildren. She is also survived by a brother, George Buonaiuto, and a sister, Bernadette Jordan.

There will be a recitation of the rosary 7 p.m. Thursday, July 21, 2011, at Sacred Heart Church. A Memorial Mass will be celebrated 12:30 p.m. Friday, July 22, at Sacred Heart Catholic Church in Prescott. Interment will be at the Mill Rift Cemetery, Mill Rift, Pa. In lieu of flowers, contributions to Catholic Relief Services or Maryknoll Missions can be made in her honor.

Information provided by survivors.


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