Philomena D. (Coyle) Murphy, age 78, passed away peacefully on Thursday, June 23, 2022, at Mount St. Rita Health Center in Cumberland, RI. She was the beloved wife of the late Robert E. Murphy for 52 years.
Born on January 22, 1944, in Belleek, County Fermanagh, Northern Ireland to the late Patrick Joseph and Mary Coyle, where she grew up in a large family as one of thirteen children. She is survived by her sisters Una, Sheila, and Josie and brothers Gerald and Aiden. She was predeceased by her brothers Paul, Francie, Kevin, and Patrick and her sisters Mary, Peggy, and Nan. She is also survived by her sisters-in-law, Mary (Leonard) Coyle, Breege Coyle, and Pauline Coyle. She was also predeceased by her brother-in-law, Richard Pelletier. Philomena is also survived by many nieces and nephews and their families.
Philomena came to America in 1964, working in a variety of domestic positions until she worked as a bank teller and then manager at Home Loan Investment Bank in branches located in Providence and Warwick, RI. After retirement from Home Loan, Philomena worked briefly at the library at Johnson and Wales University, where she enjoyed helping students as they pursued their studies.
Philomena was involved in many communities: she was a lector at the Blessed Sacrament parish, a member of the Irish Ceilidhe Club, and the Ireland 32 society. She loved music, especially live music, irish dancing, coffee, and a good high low jack card game with friends and family. She also loved to travel, as she her husband Bob traveled several times to her home country of Ireland, where she enjoyed seeing her family both in the North and the Republic. Most of all, she loved being a wife, mother, and grandmother. The times she put others before herself are too numerous to count and will always be appreciated.
Philomena is survived by her children, Monica C. Murphy and her wife, Susan McCarthy of Newton, MA, Moira A. Murphy DiBiasio and her husband, Ken DiBiasio of Woonsocket, RI, and Robert P. Murphy and his wife, Colleen Murphy of Annapolis, MD. She also leaves four grandchildren, Conor Husband, Sophie Husband, Luke Murphy, and Cole Murphy.
Philomena’s family would like to thank the staff at the following facilities for all of the care they provided to her over the past few years: Hallworth House, the Highlands, Heritage Hills, and, of course, Mount Saint Rita Nursing Center. We will forever be grateful to you for caring for Philomena, especially during the challenges of the pandemic.
Philomena’s funeral will begin on Monday, June 27th at 8:45 am from Russell J. Boyle Funeral Home, 331 Smith Street, Providence. Mass of Christian Burial will follow at 10:00 am in Blessed Sacrament Church, 239 Regent Avenue, Providence. Burial will follow in St. Ann Cemetery, Cranston.
Visiting hours will be held on Sunday, June 26th, at Russell J. Boyle Funeral Home on 331 Smith Street in Providence from 5 to 7 pm.
