Clare Murphy

Clare Marie Murphy (nee Meehan) passed peacefully in her home on March 5, 2025, the day after her 97th birthday. Clare was born in West Brighton, Staten Island, the daughter of Philip and Alice Meehan and sister of Daniel Meehan. She attended Sacred Heart Grammar School, Curtis High School and Wagner College where she earned her R.N. in Nursing. She worked first as an operating room nurse at Staten Island Hospital, later as a staff nurse at Beth Israel Hospital in Manhattan, and finally at a methadone clinic on Staten Island. While at Staten Island Hospital she met James (Jay) Murphy, Jr., a patient receiving treatment for war injuries. They fell in love and were married on November 10, 1950. They made their home together on Emerson Hill, raised three devoted sons, and in later years vacationed with friends and family on Longboat Key, Florida until Jay's passing in 2014. They were faithful and longtime parishioners of St. Teresa's RC Church of Castleton Corners, Staten Island. Clare received last rites from Msgr. William Belford, the Pastor of St. Teresa's. In 2000, together with her brother Dan, Clare received the blessing of Pope John Paul II at the Vatican in Rome. She leaves behind her three sons James (Jay) III of Staten Island, NY, Philip of Rockville, MD, and Mark of Wilmington, DE; daughters-in-law Tania, Nancy and Katie; grandchildren Carolyn, Clare, Kevin, Mark Jr., Seamus and Meaghen; great grandchildren Anne, Clare, Josie, Maggie, Jack, Juliet and Keegan; and 7 nieces and nephews and their families. Clare was kind, loving, and beloved, a beautiful human being, a 'people person', the first person to turn to with good news or for sage advice. Her life was led in selfless service to others, and she was the best friend or relative anyone could hope to have. Even in her latest years, she made new friends quickly while maintaining her lifelong bonds. A granddaughter, great granddaughter and the daughter of a friend are all named Clare in her honor. Clare loved long walks, swimming, the ballet, good restaurants (always beautifully dressed, bejeweled and coiffed), traveling, the beach, reading, helping people and, especially, talking for rapt hours with her 'darlings'. She taught her grandchildren through word and example to be caring, adventurous, strong, generous and forever young, riding the boardwalk carousel and dipping into the waves into her late 80's. She died as she lived, bathed in the warmth of love, surrounded by three generations of family, teaching them by example the final lesson of life. Her spirit will live on in all who knew her. She will be interred with a private family memorial at Arlington National Cemetery, joining her beloved husband, Jay. Donations in her memory may be sent to St. Teresa's RC Church, 1634 Victory Blvd, Staten Island, NY 10314.

Clare Murphy

March 4, 1928 - March 5, 2025