Obituary of Elizabeth C. Murphy

Elizabeth (Beth) C. Murphy, 70, passed on February 11, 2025, from melanoma at her home in Peekskill with her immediate family at her bedside. Beth was born on Long Island on November 18, 1954, and grew up in both Long Island, NY, and Lexington, KY. A longtime resident of Westchester County, Beth previously lived for 33 years and raised a family in Yorktown Heights, NY.

Beth is survived by her husband of 43 years, Henry (Harry) Murphy; her daughter Sarah Murphy, son Brendan Murphy, and daughter-in-law Dana Ferine; her parents Virginia Louis and Harry P. Colgan, Jr.; her siblings Suzanne Shea, Harry Colgan III, and Belinda Colgan; and many beloved cousins, nieces, and nephews. Beth is also survived by her almost two-year-old granddaughter, Fiona Murphy. Fiona brought great joy and happiness to Beth over the last two years of her life. 

Beth enjoyed hiking in the Hudson Valley, going to art museums, and traveling with her husband. Beth was happy doing anything as long as she was with her family. She was a voracious reader, tackled the New York Times crossword puzzle and Wordle every day, and looked forward to springtime flower planting. Beth loved music and always had something good playing through a speaker. But the thing that Beth enjoyed most was sitting and reading books with her granddaughter, Fiona – they were inseparable and spent several days together every week.

Beth graduated from SUNY New Paltz in 1976 with a degree in Education. After working with developmentally disabled children for several years, she utilized her Education skills with the IRS in their training division. While her children were young, she worked from home for American Sports Data, Inc. performing data analysis. Beth later worked in school administration for the Yorktown Central School District, Somers Central School District, and finally, until her retirement in 2020, in the Garrison Union Free School District as District Clerk and Assistant to the Superintendent. 

Family and friends are invited to a memorial service at Joseph F. Nardone Funeral Home, 414 Washington Street, Peekskill, NY on Sunday, February 23, 2025, 12:00 pm to 4:00 pm.

In honor of Beth’s love of hiking in the Hudson Valley, and in lieu of flowers, the family asks for donations to be made to the Jolly Rovers, a Hudson Valley non-profit that builds and rehabilitates trails in many of Beth’s favorite parks.