Florence L. Murphy

Florence L. Murphy, 95, a longtime resident and educator in Greenfield, Mass., died in the comfort of her home and family in Duxbury, Vt., on Wednesday morning, May 28, 2014.

She was born in Waterbury June 29, 1918, daughter of Robert J. and Mary Ann (Cavanaugh) O’Brien.

On May 9, 1959, she married Burton E. Murphy in Greenfield, Mass. He died July 23, 1973.

Florence was a 1936 graduate of Rutland (Vt.) High School and received her teaching certificate in 1939 from the former State Normal School in Castleton, Vt. While working as an educator for several communities in Vermont, Florence furthered her education, receiving her Bachelor of Science degree in education at Castleton Teachers College in 1951 and her Master’s in Education from Springfield (Mass.) College in 1954.

Florence was employed in education in the greater Greenfield, Mass., public school district, first as an elementary school teacher and then as a longtime principal, retiring in 1978 after a 39-year career.

In 2005, Florence returned to central Vermont to be closer to family.

In her leisure time, she enjoyed spending time at her Cape Cod beach home, and tending to her canine best friends, her Scottish terriers. She took great pleasure in keeping her cookie jar filled with fresh Toll House Cookies and seven-layer bars — treats her nieces, nephews and their friends looked forward to.

Florence is loved and mourned by her many nieces, nephews and their families. Her sisters, Ellen Harvey and Roberta LaCasse, died earlier, as did her brother, Robert O’Brien.

A Mass of Christian Burial was celebrated from St. Andrew Catholic Church in Waterbury on Tuesday, June 3, with a reception in the church parish hall. Burial took place in Calvary Cemetery, Greenfield, Mass., on Wednesday, June 4.

For those who wish, donations in memory of Florence L. Murphy may be made to St. Andrew Catholic Church, 109 S. Main St., Waterbury, VT 05676, or to Central Vermont Home Health and Hospice, 600 Granger Road, Barre, VT 05641. Assisting the family is Perkins-Parker Funeral Home in Waterbury. To send online condolences, visit perkinsparker.com or Facebook.