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Bill with the six oldest Murphy children (circa 1961.) In the back row (left to right) are Kevin, Danny and Shawn; in the fiont row (left to right) are M ichael, Stephen and D’Arcy

All in all, the children enjoyed a happy upbringing. They were loved, and knew they were loved. Kathleen was a devoted mother. She taught each of her children to be charitable and respectful of others. Her strong religious beliefs translated into the values with which she raised her family. She lived by the simple maxim of treating others as you would like to be treated, and that lesson was impressed on her children. She also made it clear what she expected from her children. They in turn came to realize they could earn, rather than demand respect. It was a powerful lesson. The most extreme form of discipline came in what they called giving them the “evil eye” if they misbehaved. Even today, she can still silence a room with one look.

Kathleen does not believe she treated any of her children very differently from one another, even though they had very different personalities

and temperaments. With six boys born in succession, the arrival of a daughter was especially welcomed by Kathleen, and she showered special attention on Mary Jane. Every evening, when putting the young Mary Jane to bed, she would tell her the story about how she eventually came

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