Helen E. Murphy, 83
NORTH ADAMS, Mass. — Helen Elizabeth Murphy, 83, of 344 West Main St., died Monday, March 24, 2003, at North Adams Regional Hospital.
Born in Pascoag, R.I., on April 8, 1919, daughter of Thomas and Mary K. Phillips Leavens, she came to North Adams as a child with her family and graduated from Drury High School in 1936. She later attended the former North Adams State Teachers College for a year.
Mrs. Murphy was employed by the former Hunter Outdoor Products until her retirement in 1981. Prior to that, she worked at JoAnn's Bakery, the former Sprague Electric Co., the former Giant Store and the former Sayle’s Department Store in Pittsfield.
She was a communicant of the former Our Lady of the Incarnation Church, an accomplished pianist and enjoyed painting landscapes and cottages.
Her husband, Arthur W. Murphy, whom she married April 19, 1941, died Aug. 15, 1996.
She leaves a son, Arthur F. Murphy of the town of Florida; three daughters, Carol A. Fachini of Stamford, Vt., Carla J. Devine of Las Vegas and Marla J. Dix of Clarksburg; three brothers, Thomas Leavens of Williamstown, Donald Leavens of Little Rock, Ark., and Willard Leavens of Copperous Cove, Texas; a sister, Betty Lou Evans of Big Bear, Calif.; seven grandchildren, three great-grandchildren and nieces and nephews.
A daughter, Cheryl Lee Murphy, died Aug. 24, 2001. She also was predeceased by three brothers, Frederick Leavens, Nelson Leavens and Francis Leavens, and a sister, Mary K. Leavens.
FUNERAL NOTICE — Funeral services for Mrs. Murphy will be held at 9 on Thursday, March 27, from AUGÉ-SANS SOUCIE-SIMMONS FUNERAL HOME, North Adams. A Liturgy of Christian Burial will be celebrated at 10 in Our Lady of Mercy Shrine. Burial will follow in Eastlawn Cemetery, Williamstown.
Calling hours will be from 6 to 8 on Wednesday at the funeral home. In lieu of flowers, the family suggests donations in her memory be made to either the Diabetes Association or the Parkinson's Disease Foundation, through the funeral home, 46 North Church St., North Adams, MA 01247.