Eleanor (Little) Murphy, 86, Lifelong Woburn Resident

Obituary courtesy of the Lynch-Cantillon Funeral Home.

WOBURN, MA—Eleanor (Little) Murphy, a lifelong resident of the west side of Woburn, passed away peacefully while surrounded by family in her home on Sunday, April 24th. She was 86 years of age and was the beloved wife of the late Kenneth (Ken) R. Murphy Sr., Retired Chief of the Woburn Police Department, to whom she was married for over sixty one years at the time of his passing in 2013.

Eleanor was born in Woburn, the daughter of the late Tom and Minnie (Deane) Little. She attended Woburn Public Schools and was a graduate of Woburn High School Class of 1946. Married in 1952, Eleanor and Ken settled on Houghton St. where they built their home on the family farm. Houghton St. was dear to Eleanor’s heart, a place where she spent her childhood, raised her family, and lived amongst relatives, dear neighbors, and friends, many of whom have been there for generations as well. Eleanor loved to spend her time taking care her home, yard, and garden. Eleanor was employed at Woburn District Court and later worked at Lahey Clinic in Burlington.

In addition to her parents and husband, Eleanor was predeceased by her sister, Joanne Harron, and brother-in-law, Robert.

She is lovingly survived by her three children, Karen Epstein and her husband, Richard, of Reading, Kenneth R. Murphy Jr. and his wife, Suzanne, of Carrollton, TX, and Detective Captain WPD, John Murphy, and his wife, Susan, of Burlington; grandchildren, Jillian, Sean, Kaitlin, Ryan, Caroline, Daniel, and William and three great-grandchildren, Charlie, Natalie, and Scott. She is also survived by her sister, Dorothy Craft, and brother-in-law, Roy, as well as many nieces and nephews.

A funeral service will be held on Thursday, April 28 at 10 am in the Woburn United Methodist Church, 523 Main Street, Woburn. Relatives and friends are respectfully invited to calling hours on Wednesday, April 27th from 4 to 7 pm. Remembrances may be made in Eleanor's memory to the Woburn Public Library, 45 Pleasant St. Woburn, MA 01801.