Jo Ann K. Murphy

Jo Ann Murphy, a devoted wife and daughter, loving mother, and loyal and fun-loving friend, died on January 22 at the age of 82 after a 4-year struggle with stroke-induced dementia, surrounded by family and the loving staff of the memory care unit of Benchmark Senior Living in Plymouth, Massachusetts (we shall never forget them).

Jo Ann leaves her husband of 59 years, David Murphy, daughter Jennifer Lyons and her husband Dan of Orinda CA, son David Murphy and his wife Hayley of Farmington Hills MI, and daughter Elizabeth Murphy-O’Keeffe and her husband Art of Cohasset MA, grandchildren William, Kathryn and Matthew Lyons, Grace and Peter Murphy, and Patrick O’Keeffe, brothers David Kiley of Waltham and Jack Kiley of Oregon (her brother Kevin Kiley is deceased), and countless friends and colleagues who all will grieve for the loss of this spark in their lives.

Jo Ann was born the daughter of Edward and Rita (Hamel) Kiley; she was the oldest of four children, and was raised in Watertown near the “Lake” section of Newton, educated at St. Jean D’Evangeliste School, Mount St. Joseph Academy, and Regis College 64”.

She met Dave when she was a freshman at Regis and he a senior at Harvard. They married in 1965, moved to Westwood in 1969, where they lived for 35 years while raising their children, then became full-time residents of Sagamore Beach.

Jo was a special ed teacher at Westwood High, then worked for Fidelity as a telephone representative, trainer and then manager and stockbroker. Later she worked for Weight Watchers International until her retirement in 2008.

During her early marriage she devoted herself full-time to raising her children. She completely immersed herself in the role of loving mother and the setter of the standards of morality and academics she required her children to meet. As the family grew, Jo relished her new role of grandmother “Gram” and relaxed her standards, no longer bearing the weight of her maternal obligations. All who knew her will agree that Jo Ann was a forceful presence in their lives, demanding and indomitable at times, tender and fun-loving at others, but always respected and loved, a guiding light.

Jo Ann will be waked at Nickerson-Bourne Funeral Home, 40 MacArthur Blvd, Bourne, MA on Tuesday, January 28 from 5 PM to 8 PM and Wednesday, January 29 from 9 AM to 10:15 AM followed by a funeral Mass at St. Margaret of Scotland Church 141 Main Street Buzzard’s Bay at 11 AM.

In lieu of flowers please show your appreciation for Jo Ann’s life by donating to Beacon Hospice in Plymouth MA at https://www.amedisys.com/about/foundation/