Kathleen A. Murphy

Kathleen A. Murphy, 70, passed away on Friday, Sept. 13, 2024, in Palmer. Kathleen was born on April 5, 1954 to the late Thomas and Rosemary (Crawford) Murphy. She was a 1975 graduate of St Michael’s High School in Northampton. Kathleen worked as an Administrative Assistant for many years and moved to Block Island, Rhode Island (BI) with her longtime partner, Jeffrey Landers. She worked at BIRM, BI Recycling Management and the Town Hall in BI. Kathleen loved music, reading and boating in her leisure. Kathleen is survived by her two daughters Maureen Hillenbrand and Meggan Hillenbrand and her husband, Aaron Gannon. She also leaves her brother David Murphy and his wife, Lisa Murphy, her sister Mary Elizabeth “Marybeth” Rust and her husband, Christopher Rust, as well as many nieces and nephews whom she loved dearly. Besides her parents, Kathleen was preceded in death by her brother, Timothy Murphy, who passed away in Sept. of 2015.    Her family would like to thank Palmer Nursing home for their kindness, patience and care over the past six months.                 Visitation will be held on September 20, 2024 from 9:30-10:30 at the Beers and Story Palmer Funeral Home. A Funeral Mass will be held at 11:00 at St. Thomas the Apostle Church in Palmer. Burial will immediately follow in St. Mary’s Cemetery in Northampton. Any donations would be welcomed in honor of Kathleen Murphy to the Palmer House Health Care, 250 Shearer St. Palmer, MA 01069. You may also donate to the National Kidney Foundation, 30 E 33rd St. New York, NY 10016 or by visiting www.nationalkidneyfoundation.org