1928 – 2013

AUGUSTA — Leola Murphy, 84, went to be with her father, her grandson and with God on Sunday, Jan. 27, surrounded by the family she loved and cared for all her adult life.

She was born in St. Francis on Christmas Day 1928, a present to the late Vital and Albertine (Pelletier) Thibodeau.

Leola and her husband, Leo, have been co-owners of Plummer Funeral Home in Augusta since 1962, where she also served as treasurer of the corporation, while raising six children in the apartment above the funeral home.

She was a communicant of St. Mary of the Assumption Catholic Church of St. Michael Parish in Augusta, a past secretary of St. Mary’s Woman’s Club, a charter member of the Knights of Columbus Ladies Auxiliary, past chancellor of the Daughters of Isabella, former member of the Ladies of St. Anne Society, a scribe of the Daughters of Isabella, chairperson of the first fundraiser to build a new Church (St. Andrew) and co-chair for a card party, with desserts, following the sale, and also a charter member of the St. Mary’s and St. Andrew’s Canado-American.

Mom was a very generous woman, giving of her time and knitting ability to many organizations. Knitted hats, mittens, scarves and dishcloths, food and fudge were always at the St. Mary’s Christmas fair, as well as the other Catholic churches and St. Mark’s Church.

Mittens and hats were also donated to the school for those children who had little to keep them warm. She was an incredible seamstress, using her skills to make clothing for her children, her husband, herself and even the girls’ dolls.

Though illness hit her terribly in 1973, she fought hard to get back to where she once was as the family and the business still needed her attention. She never did regain all her strength, but she still pushed herself and persevered through it all.

She was active at the funeral home until just a few years ago and was never less of a mother to any of her children. She was a loving wife to Dad and a wonderful mother and friend to her kids. Her smile, laugh and gentle humor will be greatly missed by all of us.

She is survived by her loving husband of 62 years, Leo J. Murphy of Augusta; three sons, J. Patrick Murphy and his wife, Suzanne, of Augusta, Timothy J. Murphy and his companion, Cheryl Clark, of Windsor, and L. Michael Murphy and his wife, Rae, of Augusta; three daughters, Dorothy A. Smith and her husband, David, of Augusta, Barbara J. Daigle and her husband, Robert, of Auburn, and M. Kathryn Foye and her husband, Chad, of Chelsea; a brother, Relio “Sonny” Thibodeau of Ocala, Fla.; six sisters, Sylvia Barclay of Caribou, Velma Hines of Forestville, Conn., Lydianne “Kit” Mikol of Bristol, Conn., Dorilla “Bea” Belanger of Bristol, Conn., Emily Nuzzo of Daytona Beach, Fla., and Brenda Covini of Tampa, Fla.; 11 grandchildren, Heidi and Adam Smith, Laurie, Kevin and Lisa Murphy, Briana Ham-Perreault, Travis Johnson, Meghan and Nathan Foye, and Christopher and Madelynn Murphy; a step-granddaughter, Felicia McArthur; four great-grandchildren, Colby, Isaac, Chance and Ella; as well as many nieces, nephews and cousins.

Leola was predeceased by a sister, Vitaline “Jean” Blanchette; a grandson, Justin Ham; two nephews, Joel Blanchette and Daniel Belanger; a niece, Traci Covini; and brothers-in-law, Clarence Barclay and Marcel Blanchette.

The family would like to express their deep and sincere appreciation to the nurses and aides at HealthReach Hospice. The compassion, care and kindness shown to our mother and to the family will never be forgotten. There will be a special place in our hearts for Lainny, Anna, Emily, Karen, Wendy, Kelley and Jean, to name a few. We cannot imagine what this experience would have been like without their help and knowledge.

Condolences, photos and memories may be shared at www.plummerfh.com.

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