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LITCHFIELD – Josephine “Jo” Kelley Murphy, 95, of Litchfield, passed away on Sunday August 3, 2014 at her home surrounded by her loving family. Jo was born in Torrington, CT on October 17, 1918 to Francis and Margaret (O’Brien) Kelley of the Kelley Transportation Company in Torrington. She was also the niece of Dr. Daniel Patrick O’Brien, of the Rockefeller Foundation. Jo graduated in 1935 from Laurelton Hall in Milford, CT and then went on to study in Paris, France. She returned to the US and completed her studies at Quinnipiac which was formerly Larson Junior College.

Always an enterprising woman, Jo opened the Jo Kelley Gift Shop on Mason Street in Torrington where she sold imported specialty gift items until the start of WWII. After the war, she married her late husband, Edward J. Murphy Sr. in 1946 at St. Francis Church. After raising five rambunctious children in Milton, CT, Jo joined her husband’s insurance and real estate firm, E.J. Murphy Realty, as a sales associate in 1968 and went on to be named the Litchfield County Realtor of the Year in 1981. As a student of history, Jo was also a founding member of the Milton Historic District.

In retirement, Jo was an active member of the Democratic Town Committee, the Daughters of Isabella, St, Anthony’s Church, and various other committees and efforts throughout Litchfield, CT. She had a standing date for 40 years with members of her “Lunch Bunch” each Thursday, and was passionate about travel, tennis, museums, and painting. As recently as last year she was swimming in the Atlantic Ocean, was always up for a good party, and was fortunate enough to have most of her family living nearby.

Jo was predeceased by her husband Ed, her son Brien Murphy, her brothers Frank and John Kelley, her sisters Katherine Kelley Sullivan and Margaret Kelley Keegan, and her nephew Jay Keegan.

She is survived by her daughter Kathy Minck and her husband Fred, her daughter Carroll Murphy and husband David Geiger, her son Edward Murphy and his wife Laurie, her son David Murphy and wife Sue; her grandchildren, Andrew Murphy, Kyle Murphy, Ryan Murphy, and Lindsay Horrigan and her husband Conor; and her new great –grandchild, Kellan Horrigan. She is also survived by her niece Nancy Keegan and several wonderful Murphy nieces, nephews, and grand-nieces and nephews from across the country.

Jo was loved greatly by her friends, family, neighbors and large extended family and will be dearly missed. Memorial contributions can be made to the Milton Public Hall Association, P.O. Box 302, Litchfield, CT or the Center for Cancer Care, 200 Kennedy Drive, Torrington, CT 06790.

Calling hours will be held on Wednesday evening, August 6, 2014 from 4-7pm at Rowe Funeral Home, 283 Torrington Road, Litchfield, CT. A funeral service will be held on Thursday at 11am at St. Anthony’s Church, 49 South Street, Litchfield followed by burial at St. Francis Cemetery, 863 South Main Street, Torrington, CT 06790.

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