Dolores M. Murphy

Dolores M.R. Murphy, 87, of Manahawkin, NJ, formerly of Garfield, NJ passed on Thursday, Sept 5, 2024 as family held her hand. Dolores, the beloved daughter of James and Rosalie O’Donnell was born in Garfield where she lived most of her life. Dolores was very close with her loving parents and prior to the passing of her father when she was only 13, would walk home from school during her lunch to take care of him. Dolores and her mom Rosalie were very close and enjoyed traveling to favorite New England locations such as Maine and Cape Cod. Dolores moved to her favorite place, Provincetown, MA, in her early twenties, where she lived for several years. Dolores received her Bachelor’s Degree at WPU, and following the births of her 6 children, pursued her Master’s of Library Science at Rutgers. Dolores loved her career as a Children’s Librarian in the Glen Rock and Paramus Libraries, loved her cats and furry friends, enjoyed Broadway musicals as well as being a dancer herself, and could always be found with a good murder mystery in her hand. Dolores was a ‘mom’ to many, always offering help or a warm home to friends who needed a hand, and was known for driving the neighborhood kids down the shore in the Murphy war wagon. Dolores was an active parishioner of Most Holy Name Church in Garfield where she sang in the choir. Dolores lived the last years of her life down the shore enjoying clam chowder and her grandchildren by the ocean.  

Predeceased by her beloved husband of 49 years, Robert J. Murphy, she is survived by six loving children and their spouses, Nathan Kurtz, James and Nina Kurtz, Joshua and Kerry Kurtz, Jennifer and Gary DeSanto, Jonah and Michelle Murphy, Noah and Jennifer Murphy; seven cherished granddaughters, Micaela, Genevieve, Olivia, Gianna, Isabella, Dominique and Francesca; two nephews, Shaun and Brian; two nieces, Karen and J9; beloved cousin, Karen and husband Richard Hand and their son, Douglas.

Visitation will be Thursday, September 12, 2024 from 10:30 AM to 12:30 PM at Barnegat Funeral Home, 841 W. Bay Ave., Barnegat, NJ. Funeral Mass will follow 1PM at St. Mary’s Church, Barnegat, NJ. Cremation private. (www.BarnegatFH.com)

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