Maureen Claire Murray

Maureen Claire Murray, 72, beloved daughter of William F. and Claire M. Murray, died of natural causes on 26 January 2019, in her home in Phoenix, Arizona after a long battle with a series of medical issues. The second of 8 children Maureen, or Mo as she was known to some of her siblings, was a vivacious, precocious child and a beautiful and talented young woman with a lively interest in the arts. She excelled in school where she was drawn to languages and the arts. One of the earlier students at Cardinal Spellman High School in Brockton, Massachusetts Maureen’s clear signing voice guaranteed her starring roles in high school musicals. Her strong sense of artistic design stayed throughout life and she often put together various remembrance projects for members of her large family.

Born and educated through high school in Massachusetts, Maureen chose a career as a flight attendant with Eastern Airlines soon after graduating from high school. She remained with that airline throughout its long, difficult demise which ended with the dissolution of the airline in 1991. She enjoyed travelling to new locations and experiencing different cultures. She lived for many years in New York City and greatly enjoyed the city’s cultural life. A brief marriage ended in divorce and she never remarried.

Maureen struggled with an unfortunate series of medical issues, including cancer more than once, from the time she was a young adult. She also had a work related accident while working a flight which damaged her leg and hp and probably led to other spinal injuries later in life.

After Eastern went bankrupt, Maureen went back to school and earned a Bachelor’s degree with two specializations in paralegal studies, and worked for several years in Los Angeles. She returned to the Boston area when her mother and father developed medical issues and worked as an officer manager in a firm there.

She later moved to Phoenix where she shared a house with her devoted sister Kathleen. She liked Phoenix and she and Kathleen participated in a variety of cultural opportunities including membership in a museum society. Maureen also acquired her real estate license while in Arizona.

Fiercely protective of her younger siblings, Maureen, although small and somewhat frail, was not one to suffer fools. She was combative when riled and could be a determined proponent of her own views. But she was also a deeply caring person devoted to her family and was recognized as such by all.

Maureen was born in Lawrence, Massachusetts on 19 June 1946. She is survived by her older brother William and her younger brothers and sisters Kathleen, Thomas, Patricia, Claire, Daniel and David as well as numerous nieces and nephews. She was loved and will be remembered with joy by her family.

Donations in lieu of flowers can be made to Phoenix’s St Mary’s Food Bank and Circle the City.