Mary Murphy
1926 - 2024
Obituary
Mary Carmen Murphy passed away in her sleep on May 2, 2024. She was born a triplet on September 10, 1926 to John T. and Elizabeth Gleason in Ogdensburg, New York. She was placed in the Ogdensburg orphanage as a young child along with her triplet sister, Teresa. Mary Carmen was adopted by Margaret J. Murphy.
She became a registered nurse and worked as a public health nurse in the City of Syracuse in the 1960s. She told some harrowing tales of her experiences as a young woman serving the urban poor. She attained a master’s degree in social work and then taught for many years at Onondaga Community College.
Throughout her life and especially in retirement, she was a voracious reader. She particularly enjoyed reading American history and biographies, and her sharp wit was always ready for a lively discussion about politics and current events.
Mary Carmen was preceded in death by her mother and by her birth sister, who was also her adoptive cousin, Teresa Rogers Schulz.
She is survived by Teresa’s daughters, Mary Anne Schultz and Susan Browning. She is also survived by her birth sister Helen’s son, David Jennings and his wife Cindy, several other grandchildren of her birth parents, and her loyal friend Janet Reilly. Thank you to the staff at The Hearth at Greenpoint for the loving care provided to Mary Carmen for many years.
A calling hour will be held Wednesday, May 8, 2024, at Eaton-Tubbs Fayetteville Chapel, 7191 E. Genesee St. Fayetteville, from 10:30-11:30 am, a Mass of Christian Burial will follow at noon at Holy Cross Church in Dewitt.
Contributions in honor of Mary Carmen may be made to the Food Bank of CNY, Inc. or The Onondaga Community College Foundation, Inc. to be used to provide scholarships for OCC Students.