Posted January 12, 2023

Sister Elizabeth Mary Murphy, OSF, (formerly Sister Reparta), 92 died in Assisi House on Tuesday, January 10, 2023. She had been a professed member of the Sisters of St. Francis of Philadelphia for 71 years.

Sister Elizabeth (Lilly) was born in Dublin, Ireland, where she was a member of Most Precious Blood Parish. She entered the congregation in 1949 and professed her first vows in 1952. She earned a B.A. in English from Neumann University (then Our Lady of Angels College) and a Masters in Religious Studies from Villanova University. She ministered primarily in education and parish/pastoral ministry.

Sister Elizabeth ministered for 45 years in the Archdiocese of Philadelphia. She began her life as a sister in education teaching at St. Elizabeth School, Philadelphia; St. Stanislaus School, Lansdale; St. Benedict School, Philadelphia; St. Ignatius School, Yardley; Our Lady of Mount Carmel School, Doylestown; and Immaculate Conception School, Marcus Hook. Sister Elizabeth then shifted focus to parish ministry and spiritual direction and served San Damiano Parish, Langhorne; St. Charles Borromeo Parish, Bensalem; Our Lady of Mount Carmel, Doylestown; and St. John Fisher Parish in Boothwyn. She also volunteered at the Franciscan Spiritual Center and Assisi House in Aston, as well as at St. Mary Medical Center in Langhorne. In 2020 she moved to Assisi House, the congregation’s retirement residence in Aston, where she served in prayer and hospitality ministry until her death.

Sister Elizabeth spent 16 years in parish ministry and community outreach in her native Ireland. She served for 11 years as a counselor at Cuan Mhuire in both Athy and Arus. She also served in outreach at St. James Resource Center and in parish ministry at Most Precious Blood Parish in Dublin. In addition, she volunteered for three years at Camino Drug Project in Dublin.

Additional ministry work included three years in the Allentown diocese serving in education at Sts. Peter & Paul School in Lehighton and at Holy Ghost School in Bethlehem.

All services will be held in Assisi House on Friday, January 20, 2023 and will be livestreamed. A Christian Wake Service will be held at 9:30 A.M. followed by viewing. Mass of Christian Burial will be at 11 A.M. Interment of ashes will be in Our Lady of Angels Cemetery in Aston. Sister Elizabeth is survived by her sister Molly Cleary, her brother Gerard Murphy, the Hayes family, her nieces and nephews, and by her Franciscan family. Donations in her name can be made to the Sisters of St. Francis Foundation, 609 S. Convent Road, Aston, PA 19014.