Obituary of Leonore Margaret Murphy (Cullen)

On August 16, 2022, Leonore Margaret Cullen Murphy peacefully passed away surrounded by her family at Windsong at Northridge. Lee was born on November 23, 1924, she was 97 years old. Lee was born in Brooklyn, NY and lived with her parents Vincent and Leonore Cullen and six siblings in Neponset, Queens. Lee and her husband, Joseph, raised their six children in Bethpage, Long Island.

Lee was an active member of the Altar and Rosary Society and Mother’s Club at St. Martin of Tours in Bethpage. She was always volunteering and helping out any way she could. Family life, both during her childhood and adulthood, centered on activities at her church. She made dear and lifelong friends wherever she lived. In 1971, Lee’s family was transferred to Denver, Colorado and they made their family home in Littleton. Lee took up golf and became an avid skier. She enjoyed entertaining and the company of good friends. Lee loved watching the Broncos, Notre Dame Football, and attending the activities of her grandchildren. In later years, Lee enjoyed traveling with her sisters and friends. Lee took great pride in her more than 20yrs. of work as a volunteer Teacher’s Aid in the 2nd grade at St. Francis DeSales Elementary School in Denver. Her heart and soul centered on St. Thomas More Catholic Church where she was an Extraordinary Eucharistic Minister and Lector. She participated in Helping Hands, New Life, Perpetual Eucharistic Adoration, Prayer groups, World Youth Day and Seeds of Hope. Lee’s faith and devotion to the Blessed Mother, her sense of humor, kindness, caring for those in need and sometimes feisty, but unbounding energy were the essence of Lee. She was helping others until her final days.

Lee is survived by her loving daughters: Betty (Eugene) DiLorenzo, Kathy (Kevin) Donahue, Eileen (Brad) Fulton, Mary Miner and Anne (Doug) Maxey. She will be deeply missed by her 23 grandchildren: Sean (Christine), Colleen (Ben) Cornelius and Gillian Murphy, Gina (Jared) Trauernicht, John (Jamie), Dennis and Kevin Mellon, Jesse, Ben (Amber) and Adam (Lauren) Burnett, Brooke (Matt) Reid, Erin (Brandon) Schmidt, Kelsey (Nick) Maxey and Murphy (Brett) Weibel. She leaves behind to carry on her legacy her great-grandchildren: Meagan (Ray) DeJesus and Emily Murphy, Zachary Conn, Prim and Dax Trauernicht, Taylor, Ava, Connor and Lia Mellon, Mason, Layne, Graham and June Reid, Willa, Tatum, Steele, Ford and Kolby Schmidt, Brooklynne and Griffyn Burnett, Sophia and Sloan Burnett, Lennon Weibel and her two great-great grandchildren: Isabel and Harrison DeJesus, as well as countless nieces and nephews.

Lee was predeceased by her son, Joseph D. Murphy Jr, her grandsons, Dale and Edward Murphy and her son-in-law Dick Miner, in addition to her parents and her siblings: Patricia Deeley, Vincent Cullen, Mary Robinson, Francis Cullen, Thomas Cullen and Eugene Cullen.

Our family would like to express our sincere gratitude to the wonderful staff at Windsong at Northridge and Bristol Hospice for the respect, love and caring that they gave our mother and our family. We will never forget you. In lieu of flowers, it was Lee’s wish to support the Fraxa Research Foundation 10 Prince Place Suite 203, Newburyport, MA 01950.

A Celebration of Life will be held at St. Thomas More Catholic Church located in Centennial Colorado on September 7th at 11AM, with a reception following.