Mary I. (Fernandes) Murphy Gabiola of Boise, Idaho; West Palm Beach, Florida; and Mattapoisett, Massachusetts, passed away on Monday, May 8, 2023, surrounded by her loving family in Massachusetts.
She was the beloved wife of the late Michael Joseph Murphy to whom she was married to until his passing on May 11, 1995. Mary then married Albert Gabiola in 1997 on Cape Cod. Al passed this past January.
Born at home in Norton, Massachusetts on October 29, 1924, Mary was a loving daughter of the late Jose and Rosa (Teixeira) Fernandes. Mary was a dedicated homemaker to her adoring family and also worked at the home office of her family's business, the former Fernandes Super Markets. After her three children were in school, Mary went on to obtain a teaching degree and then taught in the Mansfield School Department for many years.
Mary’s greatest joy in life was spending time with her family. She is survived by her three children: Joseph Michael Murphy of West Palm Beach, Florida; Michael Joseph Murphy III of Lyndon, Vermont; and Catherine Murphy of Mattapoisett, Massachusetts.
Mary was gregarious, enthusiastic, and always ready for a new adventure. She loved to travel … anywhere! Mary loved spending time in Florida where many of her grandchildren and great grandchildren live. She also loved visiting Vermont and living amongst the dogs, the deer, the birds, and all of the beautiful mountains surrounding her son, Mickey’s home. When in Mattapoisett, Mary just loved hanging out with the rest of her grands and great grands and daughter, Cathy. Mary always cooked big pots of her famous beef stew, served with authentic Portuguese bread! Mary also was the champion of the old Irish card game, “45”. It didn’t matter what time of day it was … if you were up for a game of 45, Mary was always ready to play. If no one wanted to play, you would find Mary knitting. Mary was well known for her Patriots hats, her reversible knitted caps, her fancy scarves, and her beautiful sweaters for babies, children, and adults! Mary would have been 99 years old in October of this year. She is survived by her younger sister, Vangie Fonseca of Norton, Massachusetts and Deerfield Beach, Florida.
Mary was everyone’s favorite aunt! She is the one that all of her nieces and nephews gravitated to when they needed help. Whether someone needed help with homework, some advice about something, or just someone who would listen without judgment, Mary was the person you went to. She had hugs for anyone who needed one!
Mary was a former president of St. Mary’s Catholic Woman’s Club. She prepared countless numbers of children for the Sacrament of First Communion and became involved with all other aspects of her church in Norton. She was also an active member of the Norton Historical Society.
Please join Mary’s friends and family in a celebration of her life on Monday, June 19th. A Mass of Christian burial will take place at 10:30 A.M. at St. Mary’s Catholic Church, 1 Power Street, Norton. Burial will follow at the Norton Center Cemetery in Norton.
A luncheon and continued fellowship will follow at the faculty dining room in Emerson Hall at Wheaton College in Norton.
To send her family a message of condolence, please visit www.nortonmemorial.com