Joan T. (Owens) Murphy, 87, of Worcester died May 6th in St. Vincent Hospital after a period of declining health. Her husband of almost 53 years, Bartholomew M. Murphy, Sr. died In 2008. She is survived by her four sons, Dr. Bartholomew M. Murphy, Jr. and his wife, Dr. Anita Murphy of Princeton, Dr. Owen J. Murphy and his wife, Maureen of San Bernardino, CA, Donald F. Murphy and his wife, Joan of Worcester and Bryan T. Murphy of Seattle, WA; seven grandchildren, Dylan, Katelyn, Kathleen, Sean, Maria, Anna and Jasmine Calderon; and five great-granchildren. She also leaves her extended family, the Murphy and O'Malley families of Clinton and Marlborough, the Owens family of Marlborough and Holden and the Calderon family of Tampa and many nephews and nieces. She was predeceased by her brother, Donald Owens in 2010.
Joan was born in Worcester, the daughter of James and Anna (Fogarty) Owens; and had lived in the Columbus Park are for all her life. She had been employed by the Norton Company as a secretary, and had also worked seasonally at Filene's. She was a member of St. Andrew the Apostle Parish, its Women's Club and the PTA at Columbus Park School. Joan will be remembered as a loving, wife, mother and grandmother who delighted in connecting with her family and keeping all informed of the latest family news. She will be sorely missed by all who knew and loved her.
After marrying her husband Bart in 1955, they began a family which consisted of four sons in six years. While the boys presented a coordinated team effort to try her patience and drive her crazy, she managed to make sure her sons were at church every Sunday. Joan helped push them through high school and college and into lives of their own. Once the boys were out of the house, there was time to travel to Hawaii, California, Florida and several other states. There were weddings, graduations and college and military reunions to attend (as her husband Bart had served in the 2nd Armored Division in World War II, and had graduated from The College of the Holy Cross). She was always looking forward to the next family gatherings, whether it was a holiday cookout or a trip to the beach.
Her family wishes to extend their heartfelt thanks to her neighbor, Herman Maldonado for his kindness exhibited to her over the past 10 years, and the staff members of Homestead Hall, Fairlawn Rehabilitation Hospital and the Emergency Room at St. Vincent Hospital.
O'CONNOR BROTHERS FUNERAL HOME is assisting the family with arrangements. Memorial contributions may be made to St. Jude Children's Hospital, 501 St. Jude Place, Memphis, TN 38105.