Obituary of Sister Genevieve Therese Murphy, CSJ

Sister Genevieve Therese Murphy (formerly Alice Catherine Murphy) died on July 3, 2022. She had been a Sister of St. Joseph for 70 years. Born on July 25, 1923 in Hoosick Falls, New York, she was the daughter of William Murphy and Catherine Burns Murphy.  Sister Genevieve attended St. Mary’s Academy in Hoosick Falls, graduating from high school in 1948.

As a child, our dear Sister Genevieve expressed her life goal: to assist as many children as she could.  And she achieved that goal. After completing high school, she enrolled in the Children’s Nurse course at St. Joseph’s Infant Home, Troy, New York. The following year, mentored by her high school teacher and namesake, Sister Genevieve Conway, she entered the Sisters of St. Joseph of Carondelet, and embraced the ministry of service to children as a nurse and educator.

After making her religious vows of poverty, chastity and obedience in 1952, Sister Genevieve was delighted that her first assignment, one that she always said she loved more than any other, was as a Child Nurse at St. Joseph’s Infant Home.  Only when the Infant Home closed in 1963 did Sister move on to teaching kindergarten for two years at St. Anthony’s, Syracuse, and twenty-two years at Mary’s Academy, Hudson, New York.

When St. Mary’s closed in 1988, Sister Genevieve was one of seven staff members honored by the Home-School Association for her many years of service. She said at that time, “It’s hard to leave, I know I will miss everyone very much.” Those words, reflecting Sister Genevieve’s gift of relationship, are key to her lifelong graced presence among family, friends, and community, a presence that, under her gentle, unassuming  manner, was ongoing generosity and love. Said one family member, Sister was our “prayer warrior.”

From Hudson Sister Genevieve moved to St. Joseph’s Provincial House where she ministered as Teacher Aide at Carondelet Educational Center until 1996, and thereafter as a staff member in the Province Archives. Faithfully taking on any task assigned to her in these positions, she earned much gratitude from the Sisters and Staff with whom she served

In addition to her parents, Sister Genevieve was predeceased by her five brothers and two sisters, and her dearest friend, Sister Margaret Paul Schrodin.  She is survived by her nephews, Eugene, William and Lawrence Murphy and their families.  Sister Genevieve is also survived by and will be missed by the Sisters of St. Joseph, especially the members of her floor Community at the Provincial House.

Due to continued Covid concerns, there will be no public visitation or funeral.

Contributions in Sister’s memory may be made to the Office of Mission Advancement, St. Joseph’s Provincial House, 385 Watervliet-Shaker Road, Latham, NY 12110.

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