Sister Clare Murphy (S. Denise Margaret), age 92, died at the Marie-Rose Center at Mary’s Woods in Lake Oswego on September 2, 2011. She was a vowed member of the Sisters of Holy Names for 70 years. The Mass of Christian Burial will be held on September 13,2011 in the Provincial House Chapel. The
youngest daughter of Francis James and Emily Green Murphy, Clare was born in Newgate, British Columbia, and joined three older sisters: Mary Catherine, who became Sr. Miriam Clare, Frances and Patricia. After moving to Oregon, she attended public grade school and although initially reluctant to do so, the Madeleine High School, where she became well acquainted with the Holy Names Sisters.

During the year she spent at Marylhurst College she felt a strong desire to become a sister, although, as she confessed, “I loved dancing, clothes, racing around, and even with good grades, I was not interested in studying.” But she was concerned about loving God, and that was enough. She entered the Holy Names novitiate in 1938, made profession of first vows in 1941 and final vows in 1945.

All of her considerable career as teacher, administrator, and caregiver took place in or around Portland. She taught elementary grades at St. Francis, St. Thomas More, St. Ignatius, and the Madeleine in Portland, our Lady of the Lake in Lake Oswego, and served as principle at St. Thomas More and Holy Family schools. For two years she was director of admissions at Marylhurst College. During a tumultuous time when Catholic schools were losing their formerly great numbers of sisters for their faculties, she served as Archdiocesan director of schools, and later as a councilor and coordinator of education for the Holy Names Oregon province.

Moving into a new field, she became the director of volunteers for the Visiting Nurses Association Hospice Team of Portland, and also acted as their chaplain. At the Marylhurst Convent she assumed the position of administrator of the Care Center, and followed that by becoming administrator af Maria Court in West Linn.

But a list of her works is not enough to define Sister Clare. Her friends would describe her in many ways. She was charming, witty, talented, creative and beautifully spiritual. She loved music, art, and a good time. She was the soul of hospitality, welcoming and gracious and filling the air with life. In the last few years, when she suffered the physical diminishments of aging, her family, friends and caregivers cherished her loving and lovable presence.

Facts Death: September 2, 2011
Place of Death: Lake Oswego, OR USA
Occupation: Teacher, Administrator, Caregiver, Chaplain
Hobbies: Music and art

Survived By Patricia O’Brien, Sister
3 nieces and 6 nephews and members of her religious community

Memorial Donations Memorial donations can be made to:
Holy Names Sisters Foundation, P. O. Box 411, Marylhurst, OR 97036