SPRINGFIELD - Martin Brennan Murray, Jr., 82, a longtime resident of Whittaker Street in the Hungry Hill section of Springfield, was Called Safely Home on Saturday, December 7, 2024. He passed into Eternal Life at Baystate Medical Center with his beloved brother, Dr. Francis Murray and his loving nephew Colin Downey by his side. He was born in Springfield on March 15, 1942, a beloved son of the late, Martin Brennan Murray MD and Ruth (Manning) Murray and lived in Springfield for most of his life before moving to Heritage Woods Assisted Living in Agawam in 2016. He was raised in Springfield and attended Holy Name Elementary School, Mount Saint Charles Academy in Woonsocket, RI, Marianapolis Preparatory School in Thompson Connecticut and then graduated from Cathedral High School in Springfield. He furthered his education and later graduated from the former Northampton Commercial College. He was last employed as a Senior Custodian at the former 16 Acres School (now Mary Walsh), Chestnut Jr. High School and the Samuel Bowles School, all in Springfield.
He was a member of the Elks Lodge 61 and the John Boyle O'Reilly Club, both in Springfield. He was a member of the National Association of Government Employees and enjoyed golfing at Saint Anne's Country Club. He was a longtime communicant and Eucharistic Minister at the former Our Lady of Hope Church in Springfield. He later was a Eucharistic Minister at Mary Mother of Hope Church in East Springfield and currently a communicant of Sacred Heart Church in Springfield. Marty loved his family and his many friends. He was the quintessential husband, son, brother, and UNCLE. His faithfulness in all things will forever be missed. He was predeceased by his loving wife, Joan M. (Britt) Murray who was Called Home on March 23, 2023. They were married on September 21, 1973 at the former Our Lady of Hope Church in Springfield and were blessed with over 49 years of happiness together. He leaves his loving and devoted brother, Francis Murray, MD and his wife, Marie, of Longmeadow; his two loving sisters, Mary E. "Mary Beth" Downey and Regina Downey and her husband, Henry, all of Springfield; his dear brother-in-law, John "Jack" Britt and his wife, Diane Vigneau, DVM; his loving nephews and nieces, Henry (Marissa) Downey, Kara Downey, Martin (Kimberly) Downey, Colin Downey, Michael (Gabriela) Downey, Caroline (Zachary) McArthur, Lauren (James) Fiorentino, Thomas (Kristin) Costello, Emma (Joseph) Murray, Timothy (Jordan) Murray, Marielle Vigneau-Britt , and Paul Sullivan, and Sean Vigneau-Britt, and Alana Coby; his grand nephews and grandnieces, Henry, Margaret, Eli, Nolan, Brayden, Olivia, Camden, Liam, Connor, Kiera, Sean, Isabella, Carolina, Sophia, Madison, Jack, Luke, Sloane, and Nadia. In addition, Marty leaves many cousins and numerous friends including Jim and AnnMarie O'Connell and Jeff Culy. Besides his parents and wife, he was predeceased by his loving brother, John Murray, David Murray, and twins, Joseph Murray and James Murray; and his dear brother-in-law, Michael Downey. His family would like to thank Dr. John Bedford and Staff and the Staff at Heritage Woods Assisted Living in Agawam. His funeral will be held on Monday morning, December 16, 2024 beginning at the St. Pierre - Phaneuf Springfield Chapels, (413-737-1177) 7 Chapin Terrace, Springfield, MA 01107, (funeral home will open at 8:30 a.m.) followed by a Mass of Christian Burial at 10 a.m. at Sacred Heart Church, 395 Chestnut Street, Springfield. His Entombment will follow the Mass at Saint Michael the Archangel Mausoleum, 1601 State Street, Springfield, MA 01109. His family will receive friends at the funeral home on Sunday, December 15, 2024 from 2 p.m. to 4 p.m. Martin requested that memorial donations be made in his memory to the Open Pantry Community Services, PO Box 5127 Springfield, MA 01101-5127 or to the Ronald McDonald House, 34 Chapin Terrace, Springfield, MA 01107. For more details and to leave his family condolence messages, please visit: www.stpierrephaneuf.com