Joanne L. Murphy
Known as the heart of her family and the glue that held it together, Joanne had a rare gift for connection.
A Mass of Christian Burial will be celebrated at 11:00 a.m. on Friday, January 9, 2026, at Holy Trinity Catholic Church, 409 Cherry Street, Columbia, PA 17512.
Family and friends are invited to gather for visitation beginning at 10:00 a.m. until the time of the Mass.
Burial will follow in Holy Trinity Catholic Cemetery, where Joanne will be laid to rest beside her husband.
Joanne L. Murphy, 85, affectionately known to many as “The Nan”, of Columbia, passed away peacefully into eternal life on January 3, 2026, surrounded by her loving family. She was born in Columbia to the late Edward G. and Verna L. (Bongart) Peters and remained a lifelong resident of the town she loved.
Joanne experienced profound loss early in life, losing her mother as an infant to polio, an absence that left a tenderness in her heart and is now joyfully healed as she is reunited with her mother in heaven. A graduate of Columbia High School, Class of 1958, Joanne soon married her beloved husband, Gardiner T. Murphy, Sr. Together they built both a family and numerous businesses, including Murphy’s Paint Store, Columbia Factory Outlet, Columbia Tire Outlet & Garage, GT Auto Parts, Don’s Basket Company, numerous laundromats and managed many apartments. Through these family-run businesses, Joanne and her husband instilled in their children the values of hard work, integrity, and an entrepreneurial spirit.
Known as the heart of her family and the glue that held it together, Joanne had a rare gift for connection. She seemed to know everyone, and wherever she went, she lit up the room with her warmth, kindness, and unmistakable presence. Her family was her greatest accomplishment, and she poured her love into them in countless ways. For more than twenty years, she lovingly prepared Sunday dinner each week, creating a cherished tradition that brought her family together. She was a faithful and loving wife, a devoted mother, grandmother, great-grandmother, and great-great-grandmother, as well as a caring sister and aunt.
Joanne loved spending time with her family, especially at Christmas, which she loved so much and made very special. Joanne loved to shop and took great joy in buying gifts for her family; in addition to being deeply missed by those she loved, Amazon, Boscov’s and Murphy’s Mercantile will surely miss her as well!
A woman of deep faith, Joanne was a faithful parishioner of Holy Trinity Catholic Church, where her faith guided her life and sustained her through both joy and sorrow.
She is survived by her four sons, Joseph G. Murphy Sr., husband of Laurie; Gardiner T. Murphy Jr.; Michael P. Murphy Sr., husband of Lori Ann; and Donald C. Murphy Sr., husband of Becky; and her two daughters, V. Jean Menard, wife of Thomas, and Julie A. Landis, wife of Donald. She is also survived by her eighteen grandchildren: Tommy; Abby (Travis); Amanda; Joseph Jr.; Josh; Jake (Amber); Rachael (Brandon); Kate (Darrin); Emily; Patrick (Sabrina); Megan; Hailey; Terese; Tawn; Lauren (Jordon); Taylor (Emilee); Chris (Faith); and Hunter.
Joanne leaves behind twenty-eight great-grandchildren: Olivia; Hannah; Mia; Dalton; Breanna; Brooke; Brittany; Bailey; Allyson; Joey; Renae; Parker; Paityn; Weston; Caroline; Julian; Matthew; Jonathan; Aundrea; Camryn; Chase; Vaida; Campbell; Trey; Koen; Beau; Marlowe June; and Donnie; as well as one great-great-grandchild, Zeke.
She is additionally survived by her sister, J. Elaine Klinestever; her nephew, Robert Klinestever; her niece, Anne Campbell; and her daughter-in-law, Constance Murphy.
In addition to her parents, Joanne was preceded in death by her beloved husband, Gardiner T. Murphy, Sr., in 1996.
A Mass of Christian Burial will be celebrated at 11:00 a.m. on Friday, January 9, 2026, at Holy Trinity Catholic Church, 409 Cherry Street, Columbia, PA 17512. Family and friends are invited to gather for visitation beginning at 10:00 a.m. until the time of the Mass. Burial will follow in Holy Trinity Catholic Cemetery, where Joanne will be laid to rest beside her husband.
In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be made to Our Lady of the Angels School, 404 Cherry Street, Columbia, PA 17512.
https://ourladyoftheangels.org/give/
The family extends heartfelt gratitude to the doctors, nurses, and caregivers of Lancaster General Hospital for their compassionate care, and to her granddaughter Abby and her family for their loving care over the past ten years.
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