Connie Murphy

Constance (Connie) Murphy

Devoted family woman

Constance Murphy (nee Bauerle) of Bloomfield passed away on Tuesday, January 5, 2021 at Morristown Memorial Hospital after a brief illness. A Mass of Christian burial will be celebrated on Saturday, Jan. 9 at 11 AM at Our Lady of Mount Carmel in Orange followed by an entombment at Gate of Heaven Mausoleum in East Hanover. Visiting hours Friday from 2 to 4 PM and 7 to 9 PM at Caggiano Memorial, 62 Grove St, Montclair.

Connie lived her life with great integrity and tireless devotion to her family. Her husband Fergus (Joe) Murphy passed away in 2002.

Connie was born on July 5th, 1930 in Newark New Jersey. She attended Saint Michael’s High School in Newark where she met Fergus and graduated in 1948. Connie and Fergus were married in Saint Michael’s Church on November 7th, 1953 and lived in Newark before moving to Bloomfield in 1960 and creating a beautiful home for their children Leslie and Jamie, who treasure their memories at 25 Overlook Terrace; the shining summertimes with trips to the little A-Frame Fergus built in Vermont, the magical Thanksgivings and Christmastimes, the lifelong friendships made, all the beautiful fruits of the marriage of Connie and Fergus.

The name Constance derives from the Latin word Constans, which means Constant. Steadfast. Connie epitomized these qualities throughout her life. The language of her love was acts of service rendered tenderly and without ceremony, especially to her family to whom she was boundlessly devoted. She will be especially remembered for the 25 years of heroic care she gave to her younger sister, Joan, who suffered a severe disability later in life and for the intense love she had for her grandson, Lawrence.

Connie was blessed with many friendships and the family honors the memory of Connie’s two closest, beautiful friends in life; Jacqueline Flaherty, with whom she enjoyed practically every Sunday for many years and Adrienne Granata, her friend for over 50 years and with whom she shared her lifelong passion for reading. And we are deeply grateful for the magnificent Flaherty family and the tender love and joy they have given Connie over the past 30 years.


Finally, the family wishes to thank the International Brotherhood of Teamsters. The fact that Fergus was a union man was a blessing to the Murphy family.

“Remember that when you leave this earth, you can take nothing that you have received – only what you have given.” ~ St. Francis of Assisi

Connie is rich, indeed.

Connie is pre-deceased by her husband Fergus (Joe) Murphy and her sisters Natalie Caracaus and Joan Bauerle and survived by her daughter Leslie Panico, son James Murphy (Christine Flaherty), grandson Lawrence Gilmore (Erricka), great grandson Galleon, sister Edie Bauerle, nieces Janene and Gigi, the entire Flaherty family and many friends.

In lieu of flowers, memorial donations may be made to the following:

LIFENET- PO Box 1800 Montclair, NJ 07042

Our Lady of Mount Carmel Church – 103 South Center Street. Orange, NJ 07050