Barbara Joseph Murphy, 71, of Millbrook died on Friday, January 12, 2018 at Vassar Brothers Medical Center surrounded by her family.
Daughter of the late Michael and Michalene Drapalski Joseph, she was born on December 10, 1946 in Poughkeepsie. On June 13, 1986 in Millbrook, she married Michael Murphy, who survives.
Barbara worked as a teacher first in Brooklyn, then in Troy, NY and finally locally in Webutuck. She worked briefly as a reporter for the Millbrook Roundtable. Barbara worked for many years at Central Hudson, where she held several positions as an office manager and in Community Relations. She was the co-host, with the late Paul Tesoro, of Central Hudson Almanac, heard locally on many radio stations. After leaving Central Hudson, she worked in public relations and marketing at Hudson Valley Hospice. She also worked as a Real Estate Agent with Whalen Real Estate in Millbrook. Barbara has been enjoying retirement since 2008. After retiring, she took up writing short stories and was working on her first novel. She had also begun entering literary competitions.
Barbara was active in community service. She served as the president of the Millbrook Library Board of Directors. She was a Board member of the Community Foundation of the Hudson Valley, the Hudson Valley Historical Society, the Mills Mansion, and the Dutchess County Girl Scouts. Barbara was co-chair of Town of Washington Bicentennial.
In addition to her husband, Barbara is also survived by her son Brian Brown and his wife Meredith of Bronxville, NY, and her daughter Alison Murphy, Newport, Rhode Island. She is survived by four granddaughters, her pride and joy, Trinity, Grace, and Lily Brown and Avery Royal. She was predeceased by a daughter, Stephanie Brown, her parents and a sister, Jean Catherine Joseph. She is also survived by a large and loving family: her brothers and sisters Ann Meyer (Herman) of Rifton, NY, Michael Joseph (Beth Sweeney) of Poughkeepsie, Thomas Joseph of Washington, DC, and James Joseph (Kerry) of Washington, DC. Brothers- and Sisters-in-law: Father Dennis Murphy, Johnstown, NY, Terence Murphy, Watervliet, NY, Tim Murphy (Michael Lasala), Metuchen, NJ, Daniel Murphy (Amy), Rensselaer, NY.
Barbara attended Holy Trinity Elementary School and Our Lady of Lourdes High School, both in Poughkeepsie. She attended Albertus Magnus in New Haven, Connecticut and graduated from Marist College in Poughkeepsie. She did post-graduate work at SUNY New Paltz and professional study at the University of Georgia. She was currently attending the Sarah Lawrence College Writing Program.
Visitation hours will be on Tuesday, January 16th from 3:00 to 5:00 pm and 7:00 to 9:00 pm at 3270 Franklin Avenue, Millbrook, New York. A Memorial Mass will take place on Wednesday, January 17th at St. Joseph’s Church, 15 North Avenue in Millbrook, at 10 am.
In lieu of flowers, donations can be made to the Stephanie D. Brown Memorial Scholarship Fund at the Community Foundation of the Hudson Valley in Poughkeepsie.
