Obituary of Kathleen Murphy

Kathleen (nee Keane) Murphy, a resident of Brooklyn, NY suddenly passed away Friday, December 27, 2019 aged 89 years. Kathleen was born September 16, 1930 in Clogher, Belmullet, in the Barony of Erris, County Mayo, Ireland to William (Ned) Keane and Mary (nee Broderick) Keane. Kathleen was raised in the Gaeltacht and remained an avid Irish speaker her whole life. She was known in Clogher as Kathleen William Ned according to the ancient Irish custom. An Individual would have three names 1. Their first name; 2. Their father’s first name; 3. And lastly their grandfather’s first name. This was to alleviate confusion when you had many people in the same town with the same last name. Kathleen, a natural born American citizen, immigrated to New York City, January 1953 where she would work as a nanny in Manhattan. She inherited her citizenship from her parents who had previously lived in Montana. Her father fought with the renowned 91st “Wild West” Division during The Great War and was severely wounded in the Argonne. In June of 1957, she married the love of her life John J. Murphy of Gorvagh, County Leitrim at The Church of the Epiphany in Manhattan. After their honeymoon the couple settled in Brooklyn where they started and raised their family. On Christmas Day, 1977 tragedy struck when her husband John suddenly and unexpectedly died. Kathleen was left with three young sons and a mortgage. She would spend the following decades working 2-3 jobs a week to pay the mortgage, provide for her family and ensure that her son’s receive a Catholic education. Kathleen worked as a cook in several Catholic rectories throughout the Diocese of Brooklyn and in P.S.225 with the NYC Department of Education. For most of her life, Kathleen was a daily communicant and had a special devotion to our Lady. She was preceded in death by her: husband John, parents William and Mary, brother William Keane of Warsop, England, sister Mary (Keane) Heneghan of Clogher, Belmullet, and Aunt Jane Broderick of Brooklyn, NY. She is survived by her: sons and daughter-in-laws John J. and Kelly, William G. and Lisa, and Kevin F. and Wendy; her three grandchildren Kevin, John (Jack), and Mary Elizabeth; her nieces, nephews, grand nieces, grand nephews, great grand nieces and great grand nephews. Eternal rest grant unto her, O Lord; and let light perpetual shine upon her. May her soul, and the souls of all the faithful departed, through the mercy of God, rest in peace. Visitation will be on Thursday January 2, 2020 from 6:00 PM to 9:00 PM and Friday January 3, 2020 from 2:00 PM to 5:00 PM and 7:00 PM to 9:00 PM at Marine Park Funeral Home, Inc., 3024 Quentin Road, Brooklyn, NY. The Mass of Christian Burial will be held at 9:45 AM on Saturday January 4, 2019 at Good Shepherd R.C. Church, 1950 Batchelder Street, Brooklyn, NY. Burial will follow at St Charles Cemetery, Farmingdale. Please see SERVICE INFORMATION for specific details and directions of services. Please take advantage of the condolence tab if you are unable to attend or merely wish to express your love and grief over Kathleen's passing. For those wishing to Send Floral Tributes, please call 718-238-6978.