Marylou Murphy

Marylou Murphy, 79, was a true ray of sunshine.  If you were lucky enough to know Marylou, you probably left every conversation a little lighter, a little calmer, and a lot happier. Marylou had that rare gift of making everyone feel seen, special, and loved.

Born to the late Godfrey and Gladys, Marylou grew up in a home filled with love and laughter, virtues she carried with her every day of her life. She shared a cherished bond with her sisters, Marilyn Thorne and Marlene Marshall — a trio as close as sisters could be, bound by heart and humor.

Marylou dedicated 35 wonderful years to Hillside Elementary School in Allendale, where she shaped countless young lives with her warmth, wisdom, and bottomless patience. She wasn’t just an educator — she was a safe place, a cheerleader, a bright spot in a child’s day.

It was on the Jersey Shore’s West Point Island where Marylou met the love of her life, Frank Murphy — a “love at first sight” moment that turned into more than five decades of deep partnership, true friendship, and sarcastic banter. They were married on July 13, 1968 and built a beautiful life together in Ramsey, where they raised their sons and became the very heart and soul of their neighborhood, where they still live to this day.

Marylou was the proud mother of Keith and his wife Lauren, of Wyckoff, and Craig of Singapore. Her greatest joy, though, came with the arrival of her grandchildren, Christian (11) and Kayla (8) Murphy — the lights of her life. She never missed a game, a recital, a concert, or a chance to celebrate their accomplishments and milestones. If being a grandmother was a sport, Marylou would have been the MVP.

She lived her life to the fullest — not just busy, but purposefully full. She found joy in the little things: Book Club, Boot Camp, the Retiree Lunch Bunch, watching movies, playing board games, telling jokes at the Ramsey Leisure Club, dancing, singing, and chasing sunsets. Marylou loved to laugh, loved to connect, and loved to lift others up. She was elegance with a wink, grace with a giggle, and kindness with sparkle. Her scarf always matched her earrings, and her signature pink lipstick was always just right.

Her faith was her foundation — a quiet but unwavering source of strength — and even in her courageous battle with cancer, she remained positive, graceful, and full of love. She never lost her light; she simply shared it more freely.

Marylou loved the beach; it was her happy place. She treasured every family vacation to Lavallette, every slot machine in Atlantic City, every cruise, and every Florida escape — but no matter where she went, the greatest joy was always who she was with.

The home she and Frank made in Ramsey remains full of memories, love, and the flowers she so lovingly tended. Without a doubt, her friends and neighbors — who truly cherished her — will keep them blooming in her honor.

Marylou’s spirit lives on in her children and grandchildren, in her beloved sisters, brothers-in-law, and sisters-in-law, in her nieces and nephews and their children — all who she loved as her own, in the warmth of her friendships, and in every life she touched with her selfless kindness. She set an example of how to live with joy, love with purpose, and laugh — often and loudly.

In her memory, wear something bright, compliment someone unexpectedly, and maybe dance a little in your kitchen.  Because that’s how she lived — full of grace, full of love, and always with a little sparkle.

The family will receive friends from 2:00 to 6:00 PM on Friday, May 23, at St. Paul’s Church, 200 Wyckoff Avenue, Ramsey, NJ 07446.

A Funeral Mass will be celebrated at 10:00 AM on Saturday, May 24, also at St. Paul’s Church, followed by burial at Christ the King Cemetery in Franklin Lakes.

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