Arbutus E Murphy

Arbutus Joy Elizabeth (Swart) Murphy, daughter of the late Le Roy and Harriet (Carter) Swart went home to be with the Lord on Tuesday May 6, 2008. Arbutus was born July 23, 1920 in Rotterdam, New York and lived in Fort Johnson and Princetown, New York. She was married to Earl Alexander Murphy in 1942, who passed away on January 15, 2002. Arbutus was a graduate of Amsterdam High School and worked at General Electric in the 1940's and later at Grants Department Store. She attended church at First Presbyterian Church in Schenectady and was active in the Duanesburg Senior Citizens. Arbutus loved people and would always try to help out whenever needed. She loved to travel, bake and research family genealogy. She was a caring Mother, Grandmother and Great Grandmother and will be greatly missed. Besides her husband, she is predeceased by her son Douglas Brian Murphy and two brothers- William and Romayne Swart. Arbutus is survived by two daughters Sandra A. Witt (Manfred) of Ballston Spa and Fawn C. Gillespie (Gerald) of Meriden, CT: her grandchildren Belinda Witt Howe (Art) and Shadrach A. Witt (Melissa); Great Grandchildren Nicole Howe, Sarah Howe and Isabelle Grace Witt as well as several nieces and nephews. Funeral Services will be Saturday May 10, 2008 at 1PM at the Bond Funeral Home Broadway and Guilderland Avenue Schenectady. Relatives and friends are invited to attend. A calling hour will be Saturday 12-1PM at the funeral home. Internment will be in Pine Grove Cemetery in Tribes Hill, NY. Contributions can be made in her memory to Community Hospice 179 Lawrence Street Saratoga Springs, NY 12866 or to the American Cancer Society 260 Osborne Road Loudonville, NY 12211.