Colleen Mary Murphy, 66

March 02, 2022

Colleen Mary Murphy passed away on March 2, 2022 after a long battle with mental illness in Lancaster, PA at the age of 66. Colleen was born Dec 12, 1955 in Mt. Vernon, New York to John C. and Marie P. Murphy (nèe Gaffney). Colleen was the fourth oldest of nine children and has resided in Red Lion, York and Lancaster, PA over the last 30 years of her life.

Colleen could often be found reading a book, writing letters to her family or scribbling away in journals. Growing up, she was fond of walks in the woods with her siblings and dad, John, as well as spending quality time with her mother, Marie. She had a spontaneous, fun-loving spirit, and once even drove cross-country with her sister Andrea to visit their sister, Theresa, in California. She was an avid music lover and adored John Lennon and the Beatles which is why she could frequently be found penning song lyrics to her favorite tunes. She was very helpful in every home she lived in and enjoyed doing chores around the house and spending time with her friends.

Colleen was very proud of her two children, Marie and Jeremiah and considered them her greatest accomplishment. She was always bragging about them to anyone who would listen. She cherished spending time with her loving family who resided all over the country and could often be found visiting a beach with them anywhere from California to Cape Cod to Florida. She especially enjoyed spending vacations and holidays with all of them and this brought enormous joy to her life. Colleen was a faithful member of the Catholic Church and spent every chance she could attending with friends and reading her Bible at home. Although her life was not easy, her devoted sister, Kathy helped her have as pleasant a life as she possibly could. Colleen was a very sweet and special spirit whose winsome personality charmed everyone she encountered in her life.

Colleen is survived by her two children, Marie Cox (Garrett Lenox), a 9-year Air Force veteran of Sacramento, CA, and Jeremiah Cox, an 18-year construction worker of Vacaville, CA. She is also survived by her brothers, Kevin Murphy, Lawrence Murphy, Vincent Murphy and Joseph Murphy; sisters, Kathy Harmon (Andy Suchko) and Andrea Chasez (Mike Ciarochi) and many loving aunts, uncles and cousins.

Colleen will be joining in heaven her parents, John and Marie Murphy (nèe Gaffney), brother, Phillip Murphy, sister, Theresa Halseth, aunt, Joan Haase and cousin, Karen Foran Dempsey.

A private funeral service will be held at a later date at the Vacaville-Elmira Cemetery in Vacaville, CA.