About Us
About Us
A Family Business
In 1893, P.W. Murphy founded the Murphy Funeral Home on the location of what is now the Hawthorne Hotel. This was one of the first funeral homes in the city and was founded on the principle of providing dignified, personal service for families of all faiths. Five generations of our family have maintained this commitment for one hundred thirty years. By 1941, the Murphy Funeral Home relocated to the corner of North and Federal Streets, and in 1965, the present facility was built. Parking, prominent location, and home-like atmosphere enable the Murphy Funeral Home to provide meaningful service in today's modern North Shore community.
Our Commitment to You
Through an ongoing, independent survey of the families we have served, the Murphy Funeral Home has consistently been rated as providing superior service. These ratings are based on location, quality of service, and facilities. The families we have served would consistently recommend us to others. Five generations of our family have served generations of your families.
Patrick W. Murphy
Francis James Murphy
Francis Joseph Murphy
Francis John Murphy Sr.
Francis John Murphy Jr.
History of Our Location
The Murphy family has been serving generations of Salem families since our founder, Patrick W. Murphy decided to open his own funeral parlor after working as a hired hand in the funeral business since 1886. Since the customs of the day did not require a funeral home, a storefront with one or two rooms behind was all that was necessary to conduct business.
As times changed, and Patrick and his son Francis continued on the family business, they moved to open one of the first actual "funeral homes" in Salem in 1926. In 1941, the Murphy Funeral Home moved to the corner where the funeral home is now located. The remodeled mansion served the community for the next 20 years, until additional adjacent property was purchased to enlarge the facility, provide ample parking, and accommodate increased business volume.
Francis Murphy Jr. represents the fifth generation of a tradition started by his great great-grandfather over 130 years ago. While Salem has undergone changes throughout those years, and the demographic that we serve has changed right along with the city; the Murphy Funeral Home continues to serve the community and earn their respect. Our reputation as one of the best funeral homes in the North Shore, which was earned by the successive generations of Murphy's after Patrick, continues as a tradition in the community.
