MURPHY, Theresa M. Of Newton Highlands passed away after a short illness surrounded by loving family on December 31, 2014. Born and raised in Northampton, Massachusetts, she graduated from St. Michael’s High School and was trained as a Registered Nurse by the Sisters of Mercy in Springfield. After working for the Veterans Administration taking care of returning World War II Veterans in Staten Island, New York, she became one of the first graduates to earn her Bachelors of Science in Nursing from Boston College’s School of Nursing. A few years later she earned her Masters at Public Health from Simmons College. Theresa spent several years at home raising her two children before resuming her nursing career with the Massachusetts Division of Occupational Health and later the U.S. Public Health Service managing the Health Unit at the US Army Corps of Engineers in Waltham. She often said she never had a job in nursing that she didn’t love. Some of her favorite stories to share included times she recalled from her nursing school days. She enjoyed reading, travel, staying in touch with her cousins in Ireland, and spending time with her grandchildren in Maine. Predeceased by George Murphy, her loving husband of 31 years, she is survived by her daughter Theresa of Newton Highlands, her son Dan, her daughter-in-law Kathryn, and her three grandchildren, Meghan, Hannah, and Timothy all of Saco, ME, and many cousins, nieces, and nephews.
Funeral from the George F. Doherty & Sons Funeral Home, 1305 Highland Ave., NEEDHAM, Saturday, Jan. 3 at 9am followed by a Funeral Mass in St. John the Evangelist Church, Wellesley Hills at 10am. Relatives and friends kindly invited. Visiting Hours Friday, Jan. 2 from 3-7pm. Interment St. Mary Cemetery, Needham.
Expressions of sympathy may be made in Theresa’s memory to Catholic Charities, 51 Sleeper St., Boston, MA 02210..