Paul E. Murphy, 80, of Spencer, passed away unexpectedly at home on Monday, September 7th. His wife of 16 years, Alice (Hazeleger) Murphy, predeceased him in 2014. He leaves behind his two sons, Philip M. Murphy and his wife, Ellen, and Timothy J. Murphy and his wife, Nicole, all of Auburn; his stepson, Giel Van Gellekom of the Netherlands and his sister-in-law, Jose Hazeleger of the Netherlands. He was blessed with three grandchildren, Devon William Bruyere, Ian James Murphy, and William Edward Murphy; and a great grandson, Liam Michael Bruyere. He also leaves his former wife, Carol Murphy of Webster, along with extended family and many lifelong friends. Paul was predeceased by his brother, James P. Murphy.
Born in Worcester to the late Edward and Mary (Guihan) Murphy, Paul attended Clark University where he received a degree in science in business administration. He proudly served his country in the United States Air Force during the Vietnam era. After his military service, Paul built a long and successful career in sales, working with hardware stores for more than 30 years. He was known for his sense of humor and never turned down a good time.
Above all else, Paul was a devoted father. When his boys were young, he was the dad who never missed a moment—cheering loudly from the stands at Phil’s soccer or hockey games, or spending evenings at home building RC cars with Tim. Those simple, hands on moments were where Paul felt most himself, and they became memories his sons cherish deeply. Becoming a grandfather was one of the greatest joys of his life. He made it a point to show up; whether it was a school program, a sporting event, any special milestone; his grandchildren knew their grandfather would be there, smiling proudly from the sidelines. For Paul, family always came first, and the time he spent with those he loved was what mattered most.
As he grew older, Paul found joy in new passions. He developed a love for photography, capturing the world as he saw it; calm, beautiful, and full of small details worth noticing. He treasured time spent at his lake house in Munsonville, New Hampshire, a place where he felt at peace. Whether it was sitting on the porch looking out at the water, enjoying a cruise around the lake, or playing games on the deck with family and friends; the lake was the place he loved most.
Paul also had a passion for riding his motorcycle and participating in bike runs that supported his fellow veterans. He volunteered with the VA and was an active member of the Combat Veterans Motorcycle Association, forming friendships rooted in shared service and mutual respect.
His funeral is Saturday, November 7th with a Mass of Christian Burial at St. Joseph’s Church, 194 Oxford Street North, Auburn at 10:00 a.m. Burial will follow in St. John’s Cemetery, 260 Cambridge Street, Worcester. Per Paul’s request, there are no calling hours. In lieu of flowers memorial contributions may be made to Veteran’s Inc., 69 Grove Street, Worcester, MA 01605.