Stella Mae Elizabeth "Betty" [Brenner] Murphy - Feb. 8, 1917-Sept. 23, 2007

A Mass of Christian burial for Betty Murphy, 90, of Newark, will be at 10 a.m. Friday at St. Edward Catholic Church, Granville, with Monsignor Paul Enke officiating. Inurnment will be at 12:30 p.m. Saturday at Calvary Cemetery, Pittsburgh.

Mrs. Murphy, a parishioner of St. Edward Catholic Church, died at her home, in her garden, Sunday, Sept. 23, 2007. She was born Feb. 8, 1917, in Beaver Falls, Pa., to the late Alexander and Pauline (Hersch) Brenner.

Betty, a graduate of St. Francis College, Pittsburgh, worked as an RN. She also worked at St. Edwards Church with Father Arvids Bernans. Throughout the years, she was active in many associations, serving as a Hospice volunteer, a member of the nurses TWIG, a docent for the historical society and a secretary for the Newark Symphony Association. While a golfer, she was president of the Moundbuilders Women's Golf Association. Mrs. Murphy was a current member of the National Nursing Association. She was an ardent advocate and supporter of those in need throughout her life. In addition to her compassionate life filled with caring for her family, friends and volunteering, it was a privileged joy for her to care for the flowers and birds in her gardens.

She is survived by her daughter and son-in-law, Joanne and Tim Cunard, of West Hartford, Conn., formerly of Granville; granddaughter, Tess Alexandra Cunard; and sister, Anne Foley, of Pittsburgh.

In addition to her parents, Betty was preceded in death by her husband, Joseph P. Murphy, the former manager of Sears Roebuck and Co. department store in Heath; her daughters, Patricia Hopson, of Miami, Fla., and Mary Elizabeth Murphy, of Newark; her brother, Jim Brenner; her sister, Marie Mehring; and sister-in-law, Anne Murphy, all of Pittsburgh.

One of her favorite prayers was by St. Francis of Assisi in which he speaks of sowing love where there is hatred and pardon where there is injury and faith where there is doubt and hope where there is despair and light where there is darkness, and most of all she made joy where there was sadness.

That's how Betty lived her life. She was amazing. Her motto was: Grant that I may not so much seek to be consoled as to console; to be understood as to understand; to be loved as to love; for it is in giving that we receive.

Friends and family may call from 6 to 8 p.m. Thursday at Reed-Egan Funeral Home, 141 Green Wave Drive, Newark.

The family requests that memorials be made to the Rosary Garden at St. Edward Catholic Church, 785 Newark-Granville Road, Granville, OH 43023.