Rosemary Murphy

Murphy, Rosemary (Mangano), age 85, of Freeport, Maine, died November 22, 2025 surrounded by the love of her family. Born and raised in Green Hills, Ohio, Rosemary grew up as the middle child between her older brother Frank and her younger, much-loved sister Judy. She considered her childhood a happy one, but Rosemary was a spirited child who wanted to experience more than Ohio and strike out on her own. She attended Mercy School of Nursing in Hamilton, Ohio. Then, with nursing license in hand, she packed up a few belongings and headed to Boston with three girlfriends, a highly unusual move in 1961 when most young women stayed close to home. While working as an operating room nurse at Massachusetts General Hospital, Rosemary caught the eye of Ken Murphy, a medical student at the time. Ken was smitten and the two began dating immediately. Ken always says that what attracted him most to Rosemary was her lightheartedness and desire to partake in exciting new adventures, as well as her unbelievable knack for finding the best in everyone she met. Ken cannot remember a time that Rosemary ever said a negative word about anyone. Rosemary and Ken married after three years of dating, and eventually settled in Chelmsford, Massachusetts.

Rosemary will be remembered as an exceptionally kind and devoted wife, mother, grandmother, and loving friend. As a mother to Kim, Kenny, and Mike, Rosemary believed wholeheartedly that her children could do little wrong (there were times that her children did everything wrong and, in fact, disabused her of that belief). Her children remember their mother as one who cooked special dinners when they asked, attended all of their sporting events, band concerts, and theater performances, and hosted joy-filled Christmas Day celebrations with friends and family for over 50 years.

Rosemary led Girl Scout troops, volunteered for years at the Perkins School for the Blind, earned a Bachelor’s in English from Northeastern University in her 40s, and was a voracious reader (especially mysteries!). As Rosemary’s children grew older and were out of the house more often, Rosemary began working at the Merrimack Valley Cardiology office where her husband and other cardiologists practiced. For 18 years, it was there that Rosemary’s aptitude for business became evident. Rosemary became the office manager, hired wonderful office staff, revamped the accounting structure, and turned the office into a wonderfully festive and positive place.

In 1980, she and Ken bought property in Freeport, Maine and eventually retired there in 2007, a move that Rosemary never regretted. She spent 18 years playing bridge, joining book clubs, volunteering at a food kitchen, and golfing. Rosemary’s grandchildren remember her playing hide and seek, building forts, and enthusiastically attending their own swim meets, soccer games, flag football games, and band concerts. Rosemary is survived by her husband of 59 years, Dr. Kenneth Murphy and her three children Kimberly Brewer (Paul) of Arlington, VA, Kenneth Murphy (Beth) of Westwood, MA, and Michael Murphy (Reema) of Taos, NM as well as her beloved grandchildren Kevin, Julie, Matthew, Connor, and Rio. There will be a celebration in Rosemary's honor this spring. Please view Rosemary’s video https://vimeo.com/1140203880/d04ebcc454

In lieu of flowers, please consider donating to the Maine chapter of the Alzheimer’s Association in Rosemary’s memory. www.alz.org/maine