Obituary of Sue M. Murphy
Sue (Wehrlen) Murphy, 90, of Martinsville, NJ, passed away peacefully on February 28, 2023, surrounded by her family at RWJ University Hospital in Somerville, NJ. Born on January 9, 1933, in Plainfield, NJ, to Emil and Beatrice Wehrlen, Sue was a lifelong resident of New Jersey. A hard worker her entire life, she directly entered the workforce after graduating from North Plainfield High School to work as a secretary in the engineering department at NJ Bell. At age twenty-three, Sue married Hugh Murphy, her loving husband of fifty-six years.
After marriage, Sue continued working for almost ten years before becoming a homemaker. At age thirty-two, she gave birth to her daughter Susan. Sue served as a devout stay-at-home mother for over fifteen years, before working part-time at Incredible Edibles in Somerville as well as QuickChek in Martinsville, where she was known for making the best sandwiches in town.
Whether it was traveling with her daughter on business trips or spending summers down the shore, Sue was always on-the-go. One of her favorite things was to sing-along with Jackie Vee, and Paul Presto at the Surf City Hotel, where leaving early was never an option. As a seasoned traveler, Sue went on over forty cruises in her lifetime and found herself most happy where the sun was shining, and the music was playing. One was most likely to find her leading the conga line or doing the electric slide while sipping on a Jose Cuervo margarita.
Sue was also an incredibly loving and devoted grandmother, who dedicated so much of her time and energy to ensuring that her grandchildren had a wonderful childhood. Just a few weeks ago, Sue celebrated her 90th birthday surrounded by family and friends. Her favorite band, “Rob Trout and the Flounders,” played a long list of beloved songs, which ranged from “Runaround Sue” to “Margaritaville.” These are just a couple of the hundreds of songs that she would sing and dance to on weekends at the Top O’Th’ Hill Tavern in Bridgewater. The only time Sue was not smiling was when the band was packing up to leave.
Those who knew Sue would describe her as a beautiful, loving, and generous soul. On dark days, she was a beacon of light— bringing happiness and love to those around her. Sue embodied everything that is beautiful in this world and will be deeply missed.
Sue is predeceased by her husband, Hugh, and her older sister Betty Barkoczy.
She is survived by her loving daughter Susan Murphy, two cherished granddaughters Kelly and Rachel Flynn, and her younger sister Janet Moeller.
A visitation will be held on Sunday, March 5, 2023, from 2 p.m. to 6 p.m. at Higgins Home for Funerals, 752 Mountain Blvd. Watchung, NJ. The funeral service will be held on Monday, March 6, 2023, at 11:30 a.m. at Higgins Home for Funerals, followed by the burial at Holy Redeemer Cemetery in South Plainfield, NJ.
