Obituary of Maureen Elizabeth Murphy

Maureen Elizabeth Murphy, age 76 of Derby, peacefully entered eternal rest on Friday, December 11, 2020 at the CT Hospice, Branford.  Born in Waterbury on February 12, 1944, she was the only child of the late Walter Daniel and Mary Elizabeth Phelan Murphy.  Ms. Murphy was a lifelong communicant of St. Mary’s Church and a graduate of Central CT State University and Brown University.  Her career as a mathematics teacher spanned over 30 years at Fairfield High School, Fairfield, until the time of her retirement in 2000.  Following her retirement, Ms. Murphy continued her passion for teaching, working nineteen additional years at Naugatuck Valley Community College.  She was a devoted UCONN Women’s Basketball fan, attending nineteen consecutive Women’s final four tournaments and countless regular season games throughout the years.  For many years, Maureen was an active volunteer for the Special Olympics where she organized and managed the Bocce events.  She traveled the world for the Special Olympic Games and received many awards for her dedication and selfless contributions. Devoted to her Irish heritage, she was active in the Valley Hibernians where she received the highest recognition of Irish Woman of the Year. Maureen held her church and hometown of Derby close to her heart being a member of the Derby Historical Society and involved with the democratic town committee, always giving back to the community in any way she could such as volunteering at Griffin Hospital. She paid kindness forward to all she encountered.  She will be long remembered by the St. Mary’s congregation for her time and talent in adorning the church with beautiful Christmas decorations each year, her involvement with the summer festival and for years counting the weekly collection.   She is survived by several cousins, including Mary Derwin Dowling and her daughter Susan Dowling of Suffield; and dear friends, Alcyne Lyon of Southbury, Lauri Taylor of Shelton, Diane DeWitt of Watertown and Jennifer DesRoches Derby as well as devoted friends from Griffin Hospital, her parish and her many years teaching in Fairfield. Special recognition to her loving caregiver, Yvonne Powell, who stayed by her side over the past year. A Mass of Christian Burial, Meeting Directly At Church, will be celebrated in the St. Mary’s Campus of Our Lady Queen of the Apostles Parish, 212 Elizabeth Street, Derby, on Saturday, December 19, 2020 at 10:00 AM.    Please be advised that all protocol, screening and social restrictions of the Covid-19 Pandemic will be exercised.  Private interment will be in Calvary Cemetery, Waterbury.  Memorial Contributions may be made to St. Mary’s, Our Lady Queen of the Apostles Parish (Checks payable: OLQA) or Special Olympics.  The Wakelee Memorial Funeral Home, 167 Wakelee Avenue, Ansonia is in care of arrangements.  Online condolences may be made at www.wakeleememorial.com.