June Delores Murphy

After a short battle of illness, on the evening of Saturday, February 12, 2022, God decided at 7:35 p.m., to walk through his garden and chose Mrs. June D. Murphy to become one of his “Heavenly Angels”. June never stopped fighting. She stayed strong. Through her, we know what resilience and perseverance truly look like. There was no quit in June.

June was born on July 4, 1935, in Washington, D.C., to William Penn and Bernice E. Jones-Penn. She attended D.C. Public Schools. During her teenage years, she met James O. Murphy. They married and had five lovely children: Nathaniel, James, Mark, Joy and June Murphy. She was a stay-at-home wife. After raising her children, she went on to work for the YMCA for 17 years. Once she left the YMCA, she worked for the Smithsonian Museum until she retired in June 2001.

June had a beautiful personality. She was always willing to help others and could keep a secret. She assumed the role of: Mother, Wife, Sister, Aunt, Grandmother, Great-Grandmother, Mother-in-Law, Friend, Counselor, Spiritual Advisor and Play Mother.

A devoted Catholic, June remained a devoted parishioner of St. Gabriel’s Catholic Church throughout her life. She loved going to mass on Saturdays and writing in the “Prayer Book.” She also loved sewing for herself, her children, and others. Bowling was another favorite hobby of hers and she enjoyed travelling with her bowling friends all throughout the United States to compete in bowling tournaments. June enjoyed travelling with her sister Elizabeth (Betty) as well.

June was preceded in death by her late husband, James O. Murphy. June is survived by her daughters Joy and June Murphy, her sons Nathaniel, James and Mark Murphy, her sister Elizabeth P. Scott, her play daughter Sherrie White, her grandchildren, great-grandchildren, nieces and nephews and a host of loving relatives and friends.