Shirley Louise (Garland) Murphy

AUBURN - Shirley Louise (Garland) Murphy, 83, of Auburn, formerly of Shrewsbury, went home to be with the Lord on Thursday, March 10, 2016. She passed surrounded by her loving family.

She is survived by her beloved husband of 58 years, Ronald J. Murphy.  She leaves behind one son, Christopher Murphy and wife Margo of Worcester; six daughters, Deborah Stephenson and fiancé Jim Hill of Holden, Linda Layman of Auburn, Patricia Webster of Paxton, Valerie Lucas and husband Anthony of Shrewsbury, Ronna Lloyd and husband Charlie of Worcester, and Lisa Powers of Auburn. She also leaves 10 grandchildren, 5 great-grandchildren and many nieces and nephews, extended family members and friends.   Shirley was predeceased by her brother Bernard Garland (sister-in-law Bertha), sisters Lois Sylvester (brother-in-law Gene) and Betty Littlefield, grandson Brandon Stephenson, granddaughter Ariana Murphy and son-in-law Gary Webster.  She was born in Buxton, Maine, daughter of Laurence Garland and Bertha Tibbetts and was the youngest of four children.

Shirley worked for Travelers Insurance Company in Hartford, Connecticut prior to marrying.  She and her husband settled in Shrewsbury and lived there 44 years before moving to Auburn.  She worked at SPAG's for seven years in Shrewsbury before retiring.  Shirley always said her calling in life was to be a "Mother" and her children can attest to that.  She enjoyed the most precious thing in life, "her family". She loved to cook and have them all around her on special occasions, holidays, any time.

The funeral will be held Tuesday, March 15, 2016 from Rice Funeral Home, 300 Park Ave, with a 10:00 am Mass at St. Anne’s Church, 130 Boston Turnpike, Shrewsbury.  Burial will follow in Mountain View Cemetery, Shrewsbury.  Calling hours are Monday, March 14 from 4:00 – 8:00 pm at the funeral home. 

Special thanks to Hospice Nurse Giselle Desroches, Hospice Social Worker Marilyn Ray and the rest of the staff at the VNA.  In lieu of flowers, donations in her memory may be made to VNA Care Network & Hospice, 120 Thomas St, Worcester, MA 01608 or the American Cancer Society, 30 Speen St, Framingham, MA 01701.

 Service Information