Margaret Murphy

Marge Murphy, née Margaret Kennedy, passed away peacefully January 17, 2019 at the care home where she and her loving husband of 74 years, Francis, resided for the past two years. With roots in St. Louis, MO and Rockford, IL, Marge lived in Sun City, AZ for the past 30 years. Not only was Marge a career social worker for child welfare, a consummate volunteer, a humanitarian, a pilot, an artist, a singer, a feminist, a mother of five with a multitude of grandchildren and great-grandchildren, she was, above all, a woman of strength—strong in spirit, strong convictions, strong belief in the power of love. In her quiet, gentle, caring and determined way, she led her life with zest and grace. Through her 95 years of life, the multitude of people she blessed and inspired with her giving ways are too many to count. Her strength of character lie in her empathy towards others and her love of humanity. She followed her deep belief in the basic goodness of others. She used to say, the word “hate” should never be used to refer to a person, no matter how hateful they may behave. She showed her love, her acceptance, and her intense curiosity in every aspect of her life. She set an example of what it is to be a ‘good person.’ Marge’s life spanned generations and seismic shifts in our country. She was a True American, a catholic in the broadest sense, a global citizen. A PILOT? As a teen, Marge’s heroine was Amelia Earhart. Determined to explore the skies herself, despite her family having limited means, Marge worked and paid for her own flying lessons. Her first job after the War was as secretary at Langley Field Air Force Base in Virginia. Her typing was so lightening fast on her entry test that she earned high-level security clearance to the U.S. Air Base facilities. She was a young bride to a recently returned serviceman from overseas. As she breezed through security Marge would shrug her shoulders and give an innocent smile as her uniformed husband underwent numerous security checks just to have lunch on the base with his new bride. The work that her flying fingers were typing up each day, was classified information regarding new technology that would be ushering in the age of the jet aircraft. LOVE FOR COUNTRY Married on the 4th of July at the close of World War II Marge and Murph ensured that the celebration of ‘America’s’ Independence would forever be associated with their union. Marge ensured that she did her civic duty by working at the polls during elections, canvassing for the candidates whom she believed would champion the rights of people who were treated unjustly, and was committed to demonstrate her belief that everyone has a right to be treated with dignity. ARTIST Marge’s creative passion popped up in her flair for fashion, her meticulous coiffures, and her patience with needlework. She was Murph’s ‘go to’ seamstress when his Graphic Design business, Display Craft, needed a fabric design for an exhibit. She placed great importance on ‘stepping out’ in style, presenting a polished look for her whole family, even creating matching outfits for herself and her daughters for Easter Sunday, St. Patrick’s Day, and other special occasions. She led her daughter’s Girl Scout troop to achieve the ‘sewing’ badge. When her daughter completed judo training, Marge created a new badge for that! As a mother, she delighted in her daughter Patricia’s flamenco performances, Maureen’s forays into fashion design, Teresa’s artistic creations, Diane’s singing talents and Jim’s artistry with the piano. Later in life, she was drawn to playing with the ‘earth:’ her clay creations came alive, reflecting her love of children and family, each piece sporting a spark of humor and whimsy while imbuing love and the simple serenity of being loved. MOTHERHOOD Marge’s first child was born in Virginia, when the couple lived at the Army base. Within a span of 15 years, Marge and Murph had produced five children, each being indoctrinated into the teachings of the Catholic church. It appeared that Marge would have welcomed even more children, as she and Murph had twice begun the process to adopt a baby from S. Korea during the wave of adoptions just following the Korean War. But, each time they decided to consider adoption, Marge found out she was expecting again, thus drawing their attention and resources closer to home. Although Marge was influenced by the prevailing American cultural standards of motherhood during her childrearing years, she regularly bucked the trends. When her children married ‘outside’ the faith or ‘outside’ the culture or outside the country, she embraced each new family member with open arms, believing that we all grow and benefit by expanding our circles, by broadening our world. The environment of loving openness that she created in her home made it natural that her children be open to all faiths, all races, all customs. Marge conveyed to her children the importance of their Irish, German and Swedish heritage. She was equally proud of her grandchildren, who enjoy rich heritages from India, Turkey, Mexico, Japan, and France. They are the faces of Marge and Murph’s universal outlook. CFM In 1953 Marge and ‘Murph’ joined the Christian Family Movement, a grass-roots movement of Catholic married couples whose mission was to “improve society through actions of love, service, education and example”. The Executive Secretary Couple of CFM in Illinois, Pat and Patty Crowley of Chicago, organized annual conventions at Notre Dame. Marge and Murph attended the conventions as Representatives of Rockford for 5 years and brought their children with them. CUBA In the 1960s in Rockford, Illinois, Marge and Murph were called upon by the Catholic Welfare Bureau to participate in an ‘underground’ mission to assist Cuban child refugees to escape an uncertain fate had they remained in Cuba during the tumultuous Cuban revolution. After Castro took over, many families were evicted and the government took their homes and possessions. Some of the parents were jailed. Marge and Francis welcomed the opportunity to have a young Cuban, Caridad Gutierrez, come and live with them and attend high school with their two daughters similar age. Their other three children were also happy to have another big sister. Two years later, Caridad’s mother arrived to reunite her with relatives in New York. FIC The Foundation for International Cooperation was founded by the Crowleys in 1960 to foster international understanding. FIC grew into a family exchange program. In 1964 Marge and Murph were part of a delegation of 120 FIC members who toured Europe and stayed with families in Rome, Monaco, Marseilles, Leon, Paris, Brussels and London. The FIC program expanded to twelve cities in the U.S. and became established in Europe and eventually other countries as well. The student and family exchanges created lifelong friendships that continued into the next generation. “FRENCH GRANDMA” Marge had hosted many French visitors in Rockford, including Dominique Vermandé, who stayed in the Murphy home for one year. Marge’s daughter, Maureen, later visited France, fell in love, and moved to the beautiful French Riviera with her new husband and her in-laws, the Formisanos. During this time, Maureen was expecting a child. She requested that Mom sew Maureen a special dress to wear at the baptism of the new baby. In her letter, Maureen described the fabric, design, and fit that she desired. Back in Rockford, Mom took out her sewing machine and got to work. 1967 the good news arrived in Rockford through a telephone telegram. Marge was a grandmother. Short and sweet. She packed the new dress and took the very next flight to France to be at her daughter’s side and to hold her first grandson, Christophe. Marge was there for the new baby’s baptism with the Formisano family. The dress fit Maureen perfectly. Christophe was the first grandchild for both sets of parents. Their emotions of love and joy needed no translation! AROUND THE WORLD IN LESS THAN 80 DAYS Marge and Murph’s next FIC venture was a tour around the world in 1969, fostering cultural respect and understanding with host families in the Philippines, Thailand, Hong Kong, New Delhi, and Japan. Their introduction to Father Fontes, an English teacher at Sophia University in Tokyo, Japan sparked a decades-long adventure for the Murphy family. Over the years, dozens of Japanese students stayed in the Murphy home for short and long visits. Marge believed that this was a wonderful experience for her family and friends. She truly took them in as an extension of her family; each young person who stayed at Marge’s home became one of Marge’s children for life. HIGHER EDUCATION When her youngest of five children was old enough, Marge embarked on a lifelong passion of hers: completing her professional education in social work. Informed by her deep spiritual faith and her budding feminism, Marge earned her MSW from the University of Illinois, alongside her daughter who was also completing her social work degree. Marge became a licensed clinical social worker, approaching each client with dignity and respecting each individual’s right to self-determination. Her natural dedication was manifested by long hours in the field, her willingness to put herself in the midst of unpredictable family crisis and her empathic responses to those in distress. Her bottomless purse held a stash of candies at-the-ready to soothe a child’s fears as they waited in court for their custody hearing, or to be transferred to their new foster home. Some of her clients could not speak, some could not move, some had been unjustly punished, others had committed crimes. No matter what that person was or what they were, what Marge saw was a human being: someone who needed understanding; someone who needed to be listened to. This incredible woman, each moment of each day immersed herself into her mission to offer her best self to any person who entered her sphere. If you ever met Marge, you would know that this is no exaggeration. MEXICAN CONNECTION Marge's beloved mother Anna Kennedy came to live with the family after Marge's father Martin passed away. In her own quiet way, Ann was a strong influence in the positive development of her grandchildren. Ann decided to visit her son who had moved to Mexico. Once she arrived in the tiny village in the mountains of Hidalgo she decided to stay with her son, content to barter coffee beans and oranges grown on their small plot of land, in exchange for goods and services from her new neighbors. Marge and Murph realized that in order to see her again, they must travel to Mexico. In 1972 they packed up the station wagon and the three youngest children to embark on an adventure across Mexico. That month-long trip was her children’s first exposure to land outside the U.S. and solidified their love affair with travel and adventure. IRANIAN CONNECTION By the 1970s, the Murphys were fully engaged in welcoming foreign students, including a group at Rockford College. One student, a polite young man from Iran, fit in so well that he became part of the family. Upon hearing of his American mother’s passing, Mehrdad expressed the deep love and respect he holds for his American parents and the important lessons they have taught him. He told Murph that if ‘Dad’ and ‘Mom’ were leading our country, the World would be at Peace, instead of ‘in pieces.’ SUN CITY Marge was honored with the Title “Volunteer of the Year” more than once for her prolific service record in Sun City. She and Murph each received an award from St. Vincent de Paul for 25 years of service. She was proud of her role in helping sculptors Betty Jane Peters, Connie Turner and Kay Smith accomplish the placement of the Volunteers Statue at the entrance of Lakeview Recreation Center. Her additional involvement in the Sun City community: Served as Board Member on the Recreation Centers of Sun City, and exercised leadership on many committees. Sun City Home Owners Association Board Member and Chair of the Transportation, Beautification and Environmental Committees. Sun City Players Theater Group, Lakeview and Marionette Clay Clubs (President), Toastmasters, Gourmet Club, Democratic Club, several sewing, quilting and knitting clubs, Sun City Visitor Center Board and Sun City Foundation. Marge contributed wholeheartedly to the City of Volunteers and never reflected on past achievements, preferring to move forward to the next task. GRACE Life is eternal. Marge forever lives on in our hearts. Her grace shines on. A Memorial service for Marge is scheduled for May 3, 2019 10 a.m. St. Thomas More Church 6180 W. Utopia Road Glendale, AZ 85308 Phone: 623-566-8222 In lieu of flowers, donations honoring Marge may be made to the charity of the donor's choice. Please contact patmugomez@gmail.com for inquiries about the service or any other questions for the family.