Obituary of Katherine Murphy

Katherine Elizabeth Murphy of Hastings on Hudson formerly of Selden NY died on July 28, 2009 after a long battle with Alzheimer's. She has resided at the Andrus Nursing home since 2003. Born Katherine Elizabeth Weber in Brooklyn on March 28, 1923 to parents Charles and Elizabeth (Krauss), Katherine," Kay" as she was known by friends graduated from Bishop McDonnell High School in Brooklyn in 1941. She graduated from Mercy Junior College in 1942. She traveled the world and spent a short time in the convent but left before her final vows. During the summer of 1949, following a "National Young Christian Worker Study Week" her desire to enter the Labor Movement of the time grew stronger than ever. She became an active member of the YCW, an international Catholic organization dedicated to workers rights and labor reform, and spent time working for their international office in Brussels in the early 1950's.. She remained active in New York throughout her career with the Newspaper Guild Labor Union and is featured in the book "A Time of Awakening" The Young Christian Worker Story in the United States 1938 to 1970 by Mary Irene Zotti. On October 13, 1956, she married Arthur Murphy and soon settled in Selden, NY where they raised their 2 children. She later went to work for the School District as a secretary until her retirement in 1985. She remained active in the Middle Country School Retirees Association, was acting secretary for her local chapter of the "Older Women's League." (An advocacy organization for women middle aged and beyond), an active member of AARP and remained in frequent contact with her comrades from the YCW until her illness left her incapable. Kay was predeceased by her husband Arthur in 1974, her grandson James in 1983, her mother Elizabeth who she cared for until her death in 1995, and her sister Carolyn. She is the Loving Mother of Kenneth, and Margaret (Miller), Mother in Law to Jim Miller and Jenny Murphy, Beloved Grandmother to Christopher, Nicole, Molly, Hannah, and Madeline, Beloved Aunt to Pat, Steve, Tom, Liz and Charlie; and Great Aunt to Kelli, Stephen, and Brian. She also leaves behind countless loyal friends throughout the world who remained in frequent contact with her through her family. Calling hours will be Sunday from 2 PM to 4 PM and 7PM to 9PM at the Hastings Funeral Home, 15 Spring Street, Hastings on Hudson 914 478-1600. The funeral will be Monday at 9:30 at Sacred Heart Church, 18 Bellwood Avenue, Dobbs Ferry, NY 914 693-0119 where a Mass of Christian Burial will be Celebrated by Father Tim Scannell, Burial will be in Long Island National Cemetery, 2040 Wellwood Avenue, Farmingdale, NY, 11735 at 12:30PM . In lieu of flowers the family requests donations be made to the Alzheimer's Association where they have set up an on-line tribute to her: act.alz.org/goto/Kay.Murphy Voices Together for a Cleaner Healthier More Peaceful Environment www.walkaboutclearwater.org