Obituary of Joan E. Murphy

Joan (Smith) Murphy of Burlington passed away peacefully Sunday, 17 February 2019 after a brief illness.

Joan, a twin of two sets of twins, was born in the depression to her parents, Lewis and Edna. Orphaned as a teen, Joan showed an incredible resiliency to her circumstances and made the best of her life. Joan, like her twin Judy, decided to serve her country and support her younger siblings by joining the Woman’s Army Corps at the young age of 18. After leaving the Army, Joan met and married John Murphy and settled in Burlington where they raised their daughter Donna. During this time Joan and Jackie created Murphy's Waste Oil which, despite Joan's lack of formal education, she managed into a very successful enterprise. Joan taught herself business and finance and was able to grow Murphy's Waste Oil into a thriving company that had diversified into real estate and other ventures. Joan was a truly gifted and very hard-working woman of incredible talents who could do almost anything she put her mind to. Joan and her husband Jackie, who predeceased her, left a legacy of giving to their family and community that will always be remembered.

Joan was predeceased by her parents, Lewis and Edna, her late husband John (Jackie) Murphy, her late twin sister Judith and sister Louise. Joan is survived by her daughter Donna, sister Lorraine, beloved niece Jill and many, many other loving family members.

A visitation will be held at the Edward V. Sullivan Funeral Home, 43 Winn Street, Burlington on Wednesday, Feb. 20 from 4-7 p.m. Funeral from the Sullivan Funeral Home on Thursday, Feb. 21 at 9 a.m.  Followed by a Mass of Christian Burial in St. Margaret’s Church at 10 a.m.  Services will conclude with a burial in Woodbrook Cemetery, Woburn. Memorials in Joan’s name may be made to St. Margaret’s Church, 111 Winn St., Burlington, MA 01803. For directions and online guestbook see www.stmargaretburlington.org or www.sullivanfuneralhome.net