Carol Ann Edwards

Carol Ann (Britt) Murphy Edwards, 95, of Lancaster, Pennsylvania, passed away on Monday, June 22, 2026. 

Born to James and Anna (Braun) Britt in Brooklyn, New York, Carol graduated from John Jay High School in Brooklyn with hopes of becoming a nurse. Instead, she devoted herself to raising her family. She and her first husband, André Eugene Murphy, welcomed three children: André II, Thomas Francis, and Carol Ann. After unexpectedly finding herself a single mother of three, she supported her family by renting rooms to burn patients from the nearby Methodist Hospital. She later married Conrad Edwards, and together they welcomed their daughter, Ann Louise. 

In 1959, Carol moved to the Borough of Liberty in Tioga County, Pennsylvania, where she fell in love with the forests, wildlife, and close-knit community of the Allegheny Plateau. There she also delighted in the arrival of her first grandchildren: Charity and twins Jeremiah and Joshua.

Following another change in life, Carol built a successful career in real estate with Century 21 Hoffer & Associates which became part of Coldwell Banker. She took the greatest pride not in sales, but in helping first-time and financially challenged families achieve the dream of homeownership. Her enthusiasm, compassion, and tireless work earned the admiration of clients and colleagues alike. 

After retiring from real estate, she worked as a caregiver at Brethren Village. Then she answered an advertisement seeking a caregiver and met Aaron E. Hess. He became a treasured companion to Carol and her family—a gentle, witty, thoughtful man of unwavering integrity whose friendship brought her great joy in her later years. She continued caregiving and assisted seniors up until the influences of dementia degraded her sense of time and place.

Her buoyant spirit prevailed throughout her ten-year decline through cheerful whistling and singing.

Carol will be remembered for her resilience, generosity, deep love of family and friends, and her remarkable ability to care for others through every season of her life.

Surviving are three children, André E. Murphy II (Joan), Thomas Murphy (Patricia), and Ann Edwards as well as 13 grandchildren, 13 great grandchildren and 3 great great grandchildren. Preceding her in passing was her daughter, Carol Ann Landis, a sister, Phyllis Thompson, and her brother, James Britt, Jr.

Relatives and friends are respectfully invited to attend a celebration of life for Carol at Charles F Snyder III Funeral Home & Crematory, 2421 Willow Street Pike, Willow Street PA 17584, on Saturday, July 11, 2026, at 2:00 PM. Friends may visit with the family from 1:00 PM until the time of service. Interment will be private. Those desiring may send memorial contributions in Carol’s memory to the Dementia Society of America or the Domestic Violence Services of Lancaster County.