Murphy, Joanne C. (Cannon) Long time resident of Wellesley and Harwich Port, May 21, 2026. Beloved wife of Robert H. Murphy for 62 years. Loving mother of Mary A. Murphy and her husband William J. Lynn of Washington D.C., Suzanne M. Murphy and her husband Scott A. Harris of Wayland, Maura A. Murphy and her husband Christopher J. Rawding of Shrewsbury, NJ, and the late Paul C. Murphy. Loving grandmother of Alexandra, Gabriella, Catherine, Vanessa, Ryan and Lyla.
Joanne’s parents emigrated from Ireland in the late 1920s. She was the first in her family to graduate from college, supporting herself by working as a model and waitress. She graduated in 1958, from Emmanuel College.
She then began her career as an elementary school teacher. She held positions in the towns of Chelmsford and Woburn Massachusetts. Following her marriage in 1963 to Robert, she ceased teaching and focused her activities on her family and supporting her community. Foremost among her philanthropic activities were supporting the Junior Guild of the Infant Saviour, Emmanuel College and St Paul’s Parish, where she was a long-time parishioner.
She resumed teaching in the mid 1970s as a substitute teacher in Wellesley and subsequently took a teaching position at St. John the Evangelist School in Wellesley. But her favorite occupation was her final role as an in-home child care provider for young families in Wellesley.
Joanne was always happiest when surrounded by young children, especially her six grandchildren, dogs of any type and catching up with her many friends from college, summers on Cape Cod and her activities in Wellesley.
Funeral from the George F. Doherty & Sons Funeral Home, 477 Washington St. Wellesley on Monday, June 1, at 10am followed by a Funeral Mass in St. Paul Church, Wellesley, at 11am. Relatives and friends kindly invited. Visiting hours on Sunday, May 31, from 2-5pm. Interment in St. Mary Cemetery, Needham. In lieu of flowers expressions of sympathy may be made in Joanne’s memory to Rosie’s Place, 889 Harrison Ave. Boston, MA 02118 or Emmanuel College, 400 Fenway, Boston, MA 02115.