Sister de la Salle Murphy, RSHM died peacefully at Marymount Convent, Tarrytown, NY, Tuesday, December 24, 2024. She was 93 years old and had been a member of the Religious of the Sacred Heart of Mary for 75 years.
She was born Catherine Murphy in Co. Kilkenny, Ireland, on January 2, 1931, one of nine children born to Michael and Ellen Lee Murphy.
Sister de la Salle received a BA in Liberal Arts from Marymount College, Tarrytown, NY, and held Diocesan and New York State Teaching Certifications.
She entered the Religious of the Sacred Heart of Mary at the RSHM Novitiate in Tarrytown, NY, on February 7, 1948. She made her first vows on August 30, 1949, in Butler Memorial Chapel, Marymount, Tarrytown, where she made her final vows on August 26, 1954.
Sister de la Salle began her many years of teaching elementary school students in New York. She taught at St. Mary’s School, Long Island City, NY (1949-1953) and then at St. Catharine of Alexandria School, Brooklyn, NY (1953-1959).
She taught in Italy at Marymount International School in Rome (1959-1963). When she returned to the United States, Sister de la Salle taught at St. Colette’s School, Rolling Meadows, IL (1963-1967). She was superior of the community at St. Bridget’s School, Richmond, VA (1967-1973).
She returned to Rome to participate in the ARC renewal program (1973-1974), before moving to Paris, France to teach at Marymount International School. In addition to teaching, she was an enthusiastic hostess for the many RSHM and their families and friends visiting Paris (1974-1986).
Before retiring from classroom teaching, Sister de la Salle taught at St. Anne’s School, Garden City, NY (1986-2008). She then moved to St. Catharine of Alexandria Parish, Brooklyn, NY, where she devoted herself to parish outreach (2008-2015).
She retired to Marymount Convent, Tarrytown in 2015.
Sister de la Salle was filled with energy and brought joy wherever she was. She loved singing and dancing and sharing that love of music with others. She sang with the Marymount Convent Singers until shortly before her death.
Sister de la Salle is predeceased by her parents and her brothers, Gerard Murphy, William Murphy, Brendan Murphy, and Gabriel Murphy. She is survived by her brothers, Rev. John Murphy and James Murphy, and sisters, Carmel Murphy Lynch and Johanna Murphy Quinn, many nieces and nephews, and by her cousins, Sisters Bridget, Genevieve, and Kathleen Murphy RSHM, and all the members of her religious family.
Services are at Marymount Convent, 32 Warren Avenue, Tarrytown, NY. Visiting is on Friday, January 3, 2025, from 4:00 – 7:00 pm with the Vigil Service at 7:00 pm. Mass of Christian Burial will be held on Saturday, January 4, 2025, at 10 am. Burial at Mount Calvary Cemetery, White Plains to follow.
We invite you to join us for the Vigil Service and Mass at Marymount Convent by live stream on our website (www.rshm-east.org), where they will be archived.
In lieu of flowers, gifts in her name may be made to Religious of the Sacred Heart of Mary, 50 Wilson Park Drive, Tarrytown, NY, 10591.
I was privileged to have Madam DeLa Salle, as she was known the, when I had her in 1 st grade in St Catherine of Alexandria. I will never forget that when school was over I went to kiss her goodbye and she was not allowed to do that then. The next day she gave me a crucifix that I still have to today. May she rest in the arms of Our Lord.
So sorry to hear about Sr. Sally. I had her in first grade at St. Catharine of Alexandria School, Brooklyn (1955-56) and saw her again when I returned to St. Catharine’s for a funeral. I visited Sr. Sally several times at St. Catharine’s and also at Marymount and we spoke on the phone several times. She was a true blessing. I entered the Franciscan Minor Seminary straight from St. Catharine’s and was ordained in 1976. I will remember her at Mass. My condolences and prayers go with all the RSHM sisters who formed me in my early years and to whom I attribute my Franciscan and priestly vocation. God bless you all.