Joanne S. Murphy

Joanne S. Murphy, 77, of Downingtown died peacefully on August 9 from complications of Parkinson’s Disease. She was born in 1947 in Elizabeth, N.J., daughter of Alfred Stanek and Anna Puchalik Stanek, both of Elizabeth. Her father was an industrial engineer for 45 years with The Singer Company in that city. Her mother was a sales clerk and assistant store manager in a women’s apparel chain. Joanne had no siblings. In 1952 the family moved to Anderson, S.C., where her father was charged with design and construction of a new production facility for Singer. She was educated there until 1964 when they returned to New Jersey and she graduated from Roselle Park High School in 1965. She and her husband of 57 years, James P. Murphy of West Orange, N.J., married in 1966 and relocated to the Philadelphia suburbs for his studies at the University of Pennsylvania. Joanne earned her bachelor’s and master’s degrees at Temple University, the latter in geology. After a brief period documenting historic earthquakes in Ohio for a geological consulting firm, she became a Research Scientist at The Franklin Institute Research Laboratories in Philadelphia. There, she and a colleague edited Ozone Chemistry and Technology: A Review of the Literature, published by The Franklin Institute Press in 1975. She left employment in 1976 with the birth of their first child, Julia Barzyk (Timothy) of Durham, N.C., and a second, Laura Jane Favela (Eric) of West Chester, Pa., all of whom survive her. She is also survived by five grandchildren: Theodore and Anne Barzyk of Durham and Arthur, Leontine and Peter Favela of West Chester. She and her husband designed and built an authentic New England-style post and beam home in Willistown Twp. that was a cover story for a Chester County biweekly. There, she maintained a warm and welcoming atmosphere for her family, neighbors, friends, and numerous pets. They were members of Radnor Hunt in Willistown and later the Yacht and Country Club of Stuart, Fla. Joanne was a devoted wife, mother, and friend who cherished time spent with loved ones. Her wry sense of humor and natural hospitality made her a joy to be around. She was particularly fond of the natural beauty of Chester County, dinners with family and friends, oil painting, Brazilian jazz, The Rolling Stones, equestrian sports, and dog training, especially of her beloved Belgian Malinois, Katerina. She will be sorely missed by her husband, daughters and their husbands, grandchildren, both extended families, and many caring friends in New Jersey, Pennsylvania, South Carolina and Florida.

Funeral arrangements are by Robert L. D’Anjolell Memorial Homes of Frazer.

Services will be private.

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