Loretta Murphy left this world on November 18, 2008 to join her husband Elmer F. Murphy, Jr in eternal peace. Married for over 67 years, they shared a love that was felt by their many friends and especially by their children, Carol-Anne (Murphy) Hill and her husband Richard, of WestChester, PA, and their son Bud Murphy of San Francisco, CA.

For the last 21 years, Loretta and Elmer lived at Granite Farms Estates, a Total Care Retirement Community in Wawa, PA where they both were active members of the community. Loretta was an early volunteer working several days a week on the first in-house announcements program which ran on the internal cable television system at Granite. She sang with the choir in their early years at Granite, and she was an active member of the Residents' Long Term Planning Committee.

Loretta also had close ties with The First Presbyterian Church of Springfield, where she was a member for over 50 years, a former Sunday School Teacher and a Deacon. She has joined her Lord and Savior already, and will join Elmer during a private ceremony when her ashes are interred next to his in the Memorial Garden at First Presbyterian Church where he was laid to rest 6 months ago.

It has been said that we are blessed if we have one True Friend in our life. Loretta had many True Friends throughout her life because she was a True Friend herself. She was never one to stand by when someone was in need. She showed her caring nature through action such as doing monthly food shopping for several years for a shut-in distant relative, or by assuaging a friend's young son's fear of water through daily sessions in the shallow end of the pool with her face in the water "blowing bubbles" alongside the child and eventually teaching him to swim the length of the pool. Sometimes is was just listening and allowing another person to voice their hopes or fears without judgement, innately understanding that they needed to listen to themselves as they voiced their thoughts and "tried them on for size" as a first step toward finding their own solutions.

Loretta also had a curious attitude, a quest for knowledge, and a mind open to new ideas. Aristotle is quoted as saying "It is the mark of an educated mind to be able to entertain a thought without accepting it." Loretta's formal education ended with a high school diploma, but she earned a PhD in life.

Loretta leaves many True Friends behind in order to join other True Friends who have gone on to see their Maker. She will be found by the Eastern Gate to Heaven where she will meet her children as promised.

A Celebration of Loretta's life was held on Saturday, November 29, 2008 in the 2nd Floor Auditorium at Granite Farms Estates, 1343 W. Baltimore Pike, Wawa, PA. Those who feel the need to make a tribute to Loretta's memory are encouraged to make a contribution to their local Hospice Organization, or to The Heifer Foundation (www.heifer.org )