Judith Ann Murphy, 85, most recently of Marblehead, MA, passed away on Thursday, April 11, 2024, of complications from lung cancer and cardiac issues. Judith, also fondly known as "Jude", "Judy", and "Gramma J", was born on July 27, 1938, in Buffalo, NY, to Jean Priscilla and Willis Sherman Gillespie.

The family moved first to a farm in Western, MA, and then to the Boston area when Judy was young. She attended Boston Latin High School. Her favorite pastimes were roller-skating, shopping, and word games; Judy was a voracious reader as well. She had a passion for traveling and enjoyed many cruises and the New England and Florida beaches. She was known for volunteering her time to help others and built meaningful relationships with many new friends that way. As a young woman, she worked in an administrative capacity, starting out on Newbury Street in Boston, MA, and ending up in human resources at Bayer in Wilmington, MA, from which she eventually retired.

Judy was a devoted and loving mother of five (including two sets of twins!), grandmother of ten, and great-grandmother of one. She was known for her kindness and generosity, as well as her dry sense of humor which she kept to the end. She cherished spending time with her children and grandchildren, sharing her love equally amongst all at the family home in Stoneham, MA, and later in Naples, FL.

Judith is survived by her brother James Gillespie and his wife Barbara of Weymouth, MA, as well as her "sister" (in-law) Ginny Gillespie of Rockland, MA. She is also survived by her former husband, Francis Murphy of Marblehead, MA; their children: Dan & Colleen Murphy of Naples, FL, Susan Murphy of Wakefield, MA, Marianne Murphy & Robin Taliesin of Marblehead, MA, John & Kate Murphy of Lexington, MA, and Gail Murphy of Palmetto, FL; their grandchildren: Matt & Teresa Murphy of NJ, Meghan & Frank Englund of NY, Waverly Stanfield of MA, John Stanfield of DC, Julia & Ben Taliesin of MA, Margaret, Madeline, & James Murphy of MA, and Taylor Rowe of VA; as well as their great-grandchild: Maya Murphy of NJ.

In accordance with Judith's wishes, an anatomical gift of her remains was made to the Harvard Medical School in Boston, MA. A Celebration of Life gathering, where friends and family can come together to share stories and memories of Judy, will be held at Kitty's Restaurant in North Reading, MA, on Sunday, June 2, 2024, from 6-9pm.

Judy touched the lives of many with her warmth, love, and selflessness. She will be deeply missed by all who knew her.