Sterling – Maureen Teresa Murphy, 66, of Sterling, MA passed away peacefully on Thursday, March 28, 2024 surrounded by her family.
Born on May 29, 1957 to James E. and Margaret (St. Jacques) Barr, Maureen grew up in Freeport, NY as the oldest of eight. She graduated from the Fashion Institute of Technology in Manhattan with an associates degree in Fashion Buying and Merchandising and a bachelor of science in Textile and Apparel Marketing Management.
She married Michael J. Murphy on November 27, 1982, recently celebrating 41 years of marriage. Mike and Maureen had a beautiful marriage, built on mutual love and respect, work ethic, laughter, and an endless amount of love. They relocated to Marlborough and later Sterling, MA in 1984 to raise their family. She is the beloved mother of Katherine C. Murphy of Providence, RI; Emily M. (Murphy) and husband Adam L. Cormack of Holden, MA; and Michael J. Murphy of Boston, MA. She is also the adored “Mimoe” of her grandson Henry B. Cormack.
In her professional life, Maureen started her career and spent seventeen years in sales at Levi Strauss and Lee Jeans. She later moved to the contract furniture, textile, and flooring industry, working with architects and designers in New England through her independent rep firm.
Maureen was larger than life. She was a voracious traveler; she saw the world and the world saw her right back. Everywhere she went-Italy, Greece, Argentina, Ireland, Sweden, Germany, France, Spain, Portugal, Norway, Mexico, Barbados, all over the U.S. and the UK-she would fit right in and left with lifelong friends. From discos in the 1970s to Saturday mornings in the kitchen with Mike and the kids, she would “dance at the first strum of a guitar.” She loved to host parties and many can attest to how comfortable it was just sitting at her kitchen table with a cup of coffee.
She was an avid gardener and found peace “digging in the dirt.” Many visits with Maureen would start with a tour of her gardens. Her affinity for flowers (and charm) once resulted in a gardener at the Palace of Versailles sneaking her daffodil bulbs to smuggle home.
Maureen is survived and already greatly missed by her husband, children, grandson, father, brothers James Barr (Frances), Richard Barr, John Barr (Susan), and Joseph Barr (Adrienne), sisters Maryanne Barr, Eileen Barr McCarthy (Gerard), and Margaret Barr, nieces Kalle, Margaret Rose, and Olivia, nephews James, Joseph, Connor, Andrew, and Nathaniel, and many dear friends. She is predeceased by her mother, whom she adored.
She was the center of our world. We miss her dearly, will treasure every memory, and thank her for fighting to stay with us for as long as she could.
Maureen’s family will forever be grateful for the wonderful staff at Brigham and Women’s Hospital and the Dana Farber Cancer Institute, in particular Maureen’s friends Nancy Lin, MD, and Christine Agius, NP-C, who have dedicated their lives to keeping families like the Murphys together.
A visitation for Maureen’s family and many friends will be held 4:00 pm to 7:00 pm on Thursday, April 4 at Miles Funeral Home, 100 Worcester Rd, Sterling, MA. A funeral mass will take place at 11:00 am on Friday, April 5th at St. Richard of Chichester, 4 Bridge St, Sterling, MA, where Maureen was a devoted parishioner.
In honor of Maureen’s love of flowers, we plan to donate all arrangements to local nursing homes after her services. Alternatively, donations can be made in her name to the Virginia Thurston Healing Garden online at https://healinggardensupport.org/, which brought her incredible comfort and support over the last few years.
To share a memory or offer a condolence, please visit www.milesfuneralhome.com.
