Joyce A. Murphy

Joyce A. Murphy, 87, a lifelong resident of Hartford and a woman who devoted her life to her family, community and faith, passed away peacefully, Tuesday (June 28, 2011) at her home. She was born March 6, 1924 and was the daughter of the late Frederick and Sarah (Hinchey) Murphy. She was raised and educated in Hartford. Joyce was employed by UTC-Hamilton Standard for 37 years, retiring in 1987 as Benefits Administrator. Joyce loved traveling, the arts, and collecting ""elephants"". She was always the first to help out anyone in the family and spent a large part of her later years caring for her sister Grace, who passed away in 2003. She was exceptionally close to her sister, Malvina Shea, of Burlington, MA and the three ""Murphy sisters"" were inseparable. She also was a proud ""Auntie Joyce"" who had a wonderful relationship with her nieces, grand nieces and grand nephews. She was predeceased by her three sisters, Fredericka ""Grace"" Murphy, Malvina Shea, and Mary Parker and her brother, Joseph Murphy. Joyce was the loving Aunt to Meg Shea-Chiles of San Francisco, CA, Mary Staten of Burlington, MA, Sarah Keenan of Trinidad, TX and Julie Scalzo of Wethersfield, as well as a number of grand nieces and nephews. ""God Bless us, everyone.""

Funeral service will be Friday at 9:15 a.m. at the D'Esopo Funeral Chapel, 277 Folly Brook Blvd., Wethersfield followed by a Mass of Christian Burial at 10 a.m. at St. Luke's Church, 66 Bolton Street, Hartford, CT 06114. The burial will be in Cedar Hill Cemetery, Hartford. Calling hour will be prior to the mass from 8:15-9:15 a.m. at the funeral chapel. Donations in Joyce's memory may be made to St. Luke's Church. For on-line expressions of sympathy please visit www.desopo.com.