Newington Obituary: Lois Murtha, 86

Lois A. Murtha, 86, of Newington, died on Saturday, August 19, 2017.

Lois was born in Hartford on December 2, 1930 to James A. and Mae M. Murtha. Raised in Hartford, Lois lived in Newington for 60 years.

She was predeceased by her two brothers, James A. and Robert F. Murtha, and by her sister, Rita M. Quinn. She is survived by her sister, Marie M. Stover, and her brother-in-law, John F. Stover, as well as many nieces and nephews and their children.

Lois was employed by the City of Hartford for her entire career, retiring after 43 years of service working in the Personnel Department, where she interacted with and helped nearly every city employee over decades of work. Lois was proud of her career and valued her relationships with colleagues and friends throughout city government.

As committed as Lois was to Hartford, her real love and passion was her family. Her dedication to her parents, especially to her father as he aged, was extraordinary. She was very close to her brothers and sisters, especially close to her sister Marie Stover and her husband John, and her quiet and discreet commitment to her siblings, her nieces and nephews, and to her grandnieces and grandnephews, made her a central piece of a large and sometimes complicated family. Everyone knew they could always go to Lois for anything – including, when she considered it necessary, frank commentary and advice.

Lois had many nieces and nephews she loved dearly and she remained engaged in their lives until the day she died: Keith Stover, his wife Susan, and their children, Clair, Mae, James and Margaret; Deborah Q. Miller, her husband Ken and their children, Kara and Meghan; Nancy Heckler and her husband, Bruce and their children, Mary and Andrew; Karen Heckman and her husband Kevin and their children, Ryan, Justin and Tyler; Thomas Murtha and his children, Timothy, Steven, Daniel, Molly and Sarah; Diane Nissen and her children, Emily and Jamie; Robert Quinn and his wife, Lin Chu, and their children Mia and Tia. Lois felt very deeply the loss of her niece, Deborah Miller, and her grandnephew, James A. Stover, both of whom Lois kept in her heart and thoughts every day. No description of her life would be complete without mention of her dear and lifelong friend, Beverly Jarvis, who predeceased Lois.

A straightforward and scrupulously honest and discreet woman full of good humor, Lois lived a good life with family and friends she loved, and who loved her.

Lois asked that in lieu of sending flowers, anyone inclined to memorialize her passing make a contribution to The Nature Conservancy's James Stover Exploration Series on Block Island.. Checks, with James Stover's name in the memo line, can be sent to The Nature Conservancy on Block Island, PO Box 1287, Block Island, RI 02807.

A Mass of Christian Burial will be held on Wednesday, August 23rd at 10 am directly at St. Mary's Church, 626 Willard Ave., Newington. There are no calling hours. Burial will follow in Mt. St. Benedict Cemetery, Bloomfield.

Newington Memorial Funeral Home, 20 Bonair Ave., Newington is serving her family. To share a memory, please visit us at www.newingtonmemorial.com.