MURPHY, NEVA (Baine) of Peabody, formerly of Weston, Wellesley and Centerville, died on March 3, 2025 at age 95.
Born to the late John and Neva Baine, Neva was raised in Brookline and Weston. She was a proud graduate of the Runkle School, Tenacre, Dana Hall and Randolph-Macon Woman’s College in Lynchburg, VA where she majored in biology and was a member of Kappa Alpha Theta. Neva was a research biologist at Harvard and Rockefeller Institute before marrying the late Thomas P. Murphy in 1958. After having five children in Indiana and Guelph, Ontario, Neva and Tom settled in Wellesley. Neva worked for many happy years at The Chestnut Shop of Weston which her mother had founded in 1964.
Neva is survived by her children: Patrick (Susan) of North Reading; Neva of Fairfax, VA; John (Kelly) of New Canaan, CT; Kate Staehly (Claude) of Wellesley and Mike (Ali) of Windsor, CT. Neva is also survived by ten beloved grandchildren: TK, Aidan, Max, Brian, Sofia, Sarah, Grace, Jack, Fiona and Bowen.
Special thanks to the staff at Brooksby Village, Care Dimensions and Guardian Angel for their gentle care.
A Funeral Mass will be celebrated on Saturday, March 15 at St. Paul’s Church, 502 Washington St, Wellesley at 10:00am. Interment in Linwood Cemetery, Weston. Visiting hours will be at the Art and Innovation Center, 356 Boston Post Rd, Weston on Thursday, March 13 from 5:30-7:30pm. Relatives and friends kindly invited.
In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to Kappa Alpha Theta Foundation, 8740, Founders Rd, Indianapolis, IN 46268 (kappaalphatheta.org) or to Randolph College, Office of Institutional Advancement, P.O. Box 3215, Lynchburg, VA 24503.