Cherry Hill Teacher's Assistant With 'Infectious Laugh' Mourned After Battle With Cancer

CHERRY HILL, NJ — Karen Murphy, a Cherry Hill teacher's assistant with an infectious smile and laugh, died March 21. She was 56, according to her obituary.

Murphy had battled pancreatic cancer "with courage, grace, and her unwavering faith," her obituary says. She was active within the community and most recently worked as a TA in Stockton Elementary School.

She grew up in Cherry Hill and graduated from Cherry Hill High School East in 1984. Murphy then graduated from Georgetown University in 1988 with a Bachelor of Arts. She and her husband, Frank, lived and raised their family in Cherry Hill for more than 30 years.

Karen Murphy met Frank when she worked in sales at US Airways. After leaving the company in 1997, she went on to Carnival Cruise Lines. Then Murphy dedicated herself to raising her three sons — Kevin, Andy and Sean — and most recently worked as a TA.

"Karen was known for her big smile and her infectious laugh, people just wanted to be around her," her obituary says. "She was generous and kind and always put others before herself."

Murphy volunteered at organizations tied to youth sports and education, such as the Stockton Elementary School Library and the ribbon tent at the Wexford Leas Swim Club.

Last season, the Cherry Hill East High School boys basketball team rallied around members of its community impacted by cancer, including Murphy. The team wore shirts during pregame warmups to honor those battling the disease, including "Karing for Karen Murphy," NJ Advance Media reported.

In lieu of flowers, the family asks that memorials be given to the Pancreatic Cancer Action Network or Cathedral Kitchen.

View Karen Murphy's full obituary.