Patricia “Patsy” Murray

Patricia “Patsy” Murray, beloved wife, mother, grandmother, great-grandmother, nurse, friend, neighbor and woman of abiding faith, passed away on Monday, May 25, 2026, at the age of 89, after a life lived with devotion, grace, and quiet strength.

Born Patricia Kathleen Donegan on January 1, 1937, in New York City, she grew up alongside her siblings, Christine and James, all raised by their mother, Kathleen. From her earliest years, she carried a deep Catholic faith that would guide every chapter of her life. At just 14 years old, Patsy met the love of her life, Richard Leo Murray. The teenage romance that began in 1952 became a 74-year love story — the kind that anchors a family and defines a life. They married on November 7, 1959, and celebrated 67 years of marriage, building a home filled with faith and an abundance of love.

Patsy graduated from St. Vincent’s Hospital School of Nursing in New York City and went on to serve as a private duty nurse at Columbia Presbyterian Hospital for more than 35 years, where she cared for Cyndi Lauper, Elizabeth Montgomery, New York City Mayor Ed Koch, and many others. But caregiving was more than a profession for her. Nursing was not simply what she did, but who she was: While off-duty, she would go check on elderly neighbors, taking their vitals and brightening their days with her warm smile.

Outside of family and work, Patsy’s greatest joys were found close to home. She had a passion for gardening, tending her flowers with patience and pride. Her hands were always sewing with skill and love, busy creating something beautiful. In later years when her eyesight failed her, music became Patsy’s companion, from hymns to Barbra Streisand. She bore the limitations of old age with the same dignity that always defined her.

Patsy is survived by her devoted husband, Richard; her brother, James Donegan; her five children and their spouses: Stephen and Debbie Murray, Susan and Keith McGrath, Tricia and Kevin Wank, Robert and Kelly Murray, and Jennifer and Rob Kinderman; her 16 cherished grandchildren: Connor, Tara, and Erin (Stephen and Debbie); Erin, Kelsey, and Meghan (Susan and Keith); Andrew, Stephen, and Katie (Tricia and Kevin); Clare, Liam, and Trevor (Robert and Kelly); and Beatrice, Poppy, Henry, and Freddy (Jennifer and Rob); and 10 beloved great-grandchildren: Michael and James (Connor and Claire); Piper and Teddy (Erin and Paul); Freya (Clare and Devin); Oliver, Melina and Aria (Trevor and Ramu); and Jack and Luke (Tara and Ryan). She was preceded in death by her sister, Christine.

A visitation for family and friends will be held from 8:30 am until 10 am on Thursday, May 28, 2026, at Spicer-Mullikin Funeral Home, 275 East Main Street, Middletown, DE. A funeral Mass will begin at 10:30 am, following the visitation, at St. Joseph Parish, 319 East Main Street, Middletown, DE. Interment will be held privately.

Patsy would like to be remembered by her impact and influence she left on your life. In lieu of flowers, please consider a donation in her honor to Little Sisters of the Poor, 185 Salem Church Road, Newark, Delaware 19713 or online by clicking here.