MURPHY – Florence Botticelli Murphy passed away peacefully and entered into the after life on September 6 2008. Ms. Murphy also affectionately known as Rocky to family and friends was born to Joe and Agnes Botticelli in Fenton MI on May 28 1925. She attended Fenton High School and went on to earn her BA and Masters Degrees in Education at Michigan State University. She was a life long educator and past Vice-President of the Grand Rapids Education Association. She retired from the Grand Rapids Public Schools in 1988 and then continued to work in the Education Department at Aquinas College until 2000. Her early involvement in the fight for civil rights and her love of education jazz and politics was widely known by all. She encouraged everyone she touched to always speak their mind. Florence was proceeded in death by her former husband John Christopher Murphy Sr., and their son John Christopher Murphy Jr. She is survived by five children Patricia Murphy (Lowell MI), Mary Jo Murphy (Santa Rosa CA), Joe Murphy (Harbor Springs MI), Mollie Murphy (Alexandria VA) and Dan Murphy (Austin TX); and eight loving grandchildren. Also surviving are her brothers Paul Jim and Max Botticelli; and sister Virginia McKenney; loving in-laws; and many nieces and nephews in the Botticelli family. The family will receive friends on from 6 to 8 p.m. at the O’Brien-Eggebeen-Gerst Chapel at Cascade Rd. and East Paris. A memorial Mass will be held on Saturday at at St. Stephen’s Catholic Church 750 Gladstone S.E. in East Grand Rapids. A celebration of Florence’s life will be held at the Thornapple Daily Grill in Ada from 2 to 5 p.m. on Saturday. The family asks that donations be made in Florence’s name to the American Cancer Society.
