Audrey Keller Murphy

Audrey Rita Keller Murphy born in New Orleans on November 9, 1926, passed away peacefully on August 13, 2023, at the age of 96. Audrey was part of The Greatest Generation who grew up during The Great Depression and overcame the challenges of WW ll. She and her late husband Bob were independent-minded, hard-working Americans who raised four unselfish children to be self-sufficient and to always do the right thing in the Catholic tradition. These traits are being passed to the next generation.

Always studious, Audrey attended Andrew H. Wilson Grammar School, Eleanor McMain High School, and Louisiana State University, where she earned a BS in Business Administration and was a member of the Kappa Delta Sorority. She later earned a Teaching Certificate at night from Dominican College with a 4.0 GPA as part of her continuing education as a dedicated 4th Grade teacher at Immaculate Heart of Mary Catholic School, where she taught the Pines Village neighborhood baby boomers and their families for 27 years.

Audrey never let grass grow under her feet. She loved to laugh and have fun. She never missed Sunday Mass and prayed her Rosary daily. She was socially active in many arenas, held leadership positions in numerous clubs and organizations including Pines Village Garden Club (in spite of no green thumb), NAIM, Junior Woman’s Club, Les Nouvelles, The Marions and St. Philip Neri Parish. Audrey played cards regularly with her friends, enjoyed traveling with her Go-Go Girls, stayed connected with her LSU roommates, loved music and dancing, especially the jitterbug and line dancing, held open-house tutoring sessions for her grandchildren and their classmates, and was an unselfish caregiver for many elderly relatives with her forward-paying heart of gold. Audrey claimed to be the fastest walker at the East Jefferson Wellness Center where she held this distinction unopposed for many years. She was a great cook and the roast queen. She cracked the code to Mamaw’s spaghetti and red gravy recipe, and her stuffed mirliton has yet to be topped. She loved being with her grandchildren and babysitting their kids. Audrey will be greeted with open arms by her family and friends in heaven and will be forever remembered by all left behind.

Audrey is predeceased by her husband of 44 years, Robert D. Murphy, Sr., her parents, Albert Lloyd Keller and Gertrude Finley Keller, sister, Janice Keller Douglas, brother-in-law, Daniel J. Murphy, Jr. She is survived by her brother Albert P. Keller, sister-in-law, Patsy Murphy Jungle; children and their spouses, Robert D. Murphy, Jr. (Lynn), Donald G. Murphy (Jean), Nancy M. Glaviano (David), and Janice M. Whealdon (Patrick). Ten grandchildren and their spouses also survive, Robert D. Murphy III, Rebecca M. Elmore (Brad), Erin M. Arnold (Travis), Meaghan M. Sholtis (Reid), Kasey M. Benz (Michael), Kellen M. Fitzsimmons (Brian), Bradford M. Glaviano, Matthew V. Glaviano (Clare), Hunter P. Whealdon (Cynthia), Connor M. Whealdon; and eleven great-grandchildren whom she adored.

The Murphy family would like to thank Audrey’s angel caregivers, and the staff at Inspired Living of Kenner for their love, kindness and dedication.

Relatives and friends of the family are invited to attend a celebration of Audrey’s life on Saturday, August 19, 2023, Lake Lawn Metairie Funeral Home, 5100 Pontchartrain Blvd., Visitation from 11:00 A.M.-1:00 P.M., Mass 1:00 P.M. Interment to follow in Greenwood Cemetery.

In lieu of flowers, please consider Masses; or a memorial donation to Catholic Charities, Archdiocese of New Orleans at www.ccano.org.

To share your fond thoughts, memories, and condolences with the family, please visit the online guestbook at lakelawnmetairie.com