Brenda Murphy (nee MacDonald) passed away peacefully on September 22, 2026 at age 86 after a brief battle with dementia. A long-time resident of The Philadelphia Protestant Home in Philadelphia, PA, she was surrounded by her family and friends at the time of her death.
Brenda will be remembered for her warmth, her devotion to her family, and her creative and intellectual pursuits. Born in Malden, MA on September 23, 1939, she graduated from Lexington High School in 1958. After high school, she completed secretarial school and worked briefly before marrying Ronald Murphy and settling in Milton, MA. While raising their five children, her natural curiosity and keen intellect drove her to take college classes. With steady perseverance, she earned an honors degree in English from Bridgewater State University.
Brenda was an excellent pianist who was versatile in both classical and contemporary music. She loved to gather her children around her while she played and encourage any and all attempts to sing along. One of her proudest accomplishments was when she faced her fears and performed a piano recital on stage while in college.
Throughout her life, Brenda sought ways to surround herself with beauty and the arts. She cultivated her interest in gardening by designing and nurturing beautiful garden beds wherever she lived. Her green thumb extended into her house, too. She filled her home with plants and cut flowers. While her budget was often limited, she curated objects, art, and used furniture to bring warmth and charm into her home. She often had classical music, opera, or one of her favorites – Andrea Bocelli and Michael Buble – playing quietly in the background.
Brenda was preceded in death by her husband and her parents Charles MacDonald and Marguerite MacDonald (nee Perry). She is survived by her children Brenda Murphy, Susan (Robert) Morgan, Ronald (Raymond) Murphy, Margaret (Jay) Murphy-Kaufman, and Diane Murphy; her grandchildren Catherine Murphy, Elizabeth Morgan, Caroline Morgan, Allison Kaufman, Jenna Kaufman, and Benjamin Kaufman; and her siblings Ann (Raymond) McGuiggin, Stephen (Mary) MacDonald, Mary (William) Modoono, and Patricia (Allen) Otis.
A memorial honoring Brenda’s life will be held on Wednesday, September 30, 2026 at Saint Andrew Catholic Church, 81 Swamp Road, Newtown PA 18940. The viewing will begin at 11:00 a.m. with the service starting at noon. All who knew and loved Brenda are encouraged to join us in honoring her memory. In lieu of flowers, we ask that donations be made to Covenant House or another charity of your choice.
