Joan M. Murphy Cremer

February 25, 1935 – September 10, 2026

Joan was a devoted mother, grandmother, great-grandmother, wife, and friend. She lived a long, rich, and interesting life, blessing those around her with love, loyal friendship, beautiful art, and the kind of witty comments that arrived exactly when needed.

Joan was born in Midland Park, New Jersey to François and Lucie Perreard, 19 years after her brother, Marcel “Marty.” Her parents and Marty had immigrated from Switzerland 12 years earlier, arriving at Ellis Island and first settling in New York City. Joan grew up speaking French at home and learned English when she began school.

During World War II, both Joan’s father and brother worked in the war plants. After the war, Marty moved his family to Jacksonville, Oregon, in search of better work, and Joan and her parents soon followed. The family moved between Medford and New Jersey before finally settling in Medford when Joan was in eighth grade. She attended St. Mary’s High School, where she found a spiritual home and came into her own, graduating as valedictorian. She then moved to Portland to attend Marylhurst College, where she made lifelong friends and graduated magna cum laude with majors in Secondary Education and French. In 1957, she received a Fulbright Scholarship to study French language and civilization at the University of Poitiers, France. She stayed in France for two years, continuing as a Fulbright teaching assistant at the University of Toulouse and traveling widely throughout Europe. After returning to Oregon, she taught French at Grant High School in Portland. At a Catholic University Graduates meet up she met Patrick Emmett Murphy, a structural engineer and graduate of the University of Santa Clara with a master’s degree from the University of Illinois. They married in November 1960. Sadly, Patrick drowned while canoeing on the Clackamas River on July 15, 1961; their daughter, Patricia Murphy Bradach, was born that November.

After Patrick’s death, Joan and Patricia lived with Patrick’s parents. Joan returned to Portland Public Schools, first teaching French at Girls Polytechnic Institute, later known as Monroe High School. She earned a Master of Education from the University of Portland in 1964. She continued her career as a Guidance Counselor at Roosevelt High School in North Portland, and Vocational Village High School in Southeast Portland. Travel remained one of her great joys, as did her friendships and her family ties in Switzerland. From 1968 to 1978, she and Patricia spent every other summer traveling through Europe for eight weeks at a time, always making room for visits with Swiss family in Geneva.

After 37 years with Portland Public Schools, Joan retired and began a new chapter filled with travel, friendship, and art. She nurtured her talent as a watercolor painter and joined a group of women who painted together, traveled to beautiful places, and found joy in exploring along the way. She became a devoted grandmother to Patricia and Sam’s children, Claire and Ben. She spent countless hours cheering them on at sporting events and attending school activities, and she made sure to build a close and lasting relationship with each of them.

In August 2004, Joan married Cornelius “Con” Cremer, and together they enjoyed 13 happy years. She loved Con’s children, Joanne, Mike, and Richard Cremer, and cherished time with them and their families. Joan and Con traveled to Europe, cruised to Panama, Alaska and the Caribbean, and supported each other with warmth, humor, and companionship in retirement. Con died in 2017, and Joan missed him deeply.

In the last two years, Joan’s body declined, but her mind stayed strong. She continued to meet with friends and family, connect people to one another, visit her grandchildren, and delighted in having great-grandchildren.

She is survived by her daughter, Patricia, and beloved son-in-law, Sam Bradach; grandchildren Claire Bradach Kovatch (Johnny) and Ben Bradach (Lea); great-grandchildren Hart Kovatch, Lake Kovatch, and Lane Bradach. In addition, she is survived by Con’s children, Joanne Cremer, Mike Cremer, and Richard Cremer.

Her Celebration of Life will be held at All Saints Catholic Church, 3847 NE Glisan, Portland, OR 97232, at 11 a.m. on October 2, 2026.