Obituary of Margarethe H. Murphy

Margarethe H. Murphy (née Schaller), 86, of Clinton NY, passed away peacefully on Thursday, July 25, 2024, at the MVHS Rehabilitation and Nursing Center, surrounded by the love of her family.

Margarethe was born on October 16, 1937, in Haidefeld, Germany to the late Walter and Auguste (Stüwe) Schaller. She grew up in Germany working on her family’s farm and as a weaver in a textile factory in the former East Germany. In 1957, she emigrated to West Germany, and in 1960, joined her older brother John (Johannes) in the United States to work in his grocery store in Hobart NY. She continued to work with her brother and sister-in-law, Betty, at Schaller’s Packers in Bridgewater, NY until her retirement in 2002.

In 1963, Margarethe married Thomas L. Murphy of Hobart NY and had three children, Mary Ann, Erin, and Thomas. Margarethe had a great love for children, nature, and animals, and was known for her cooking, kindness, and witty remarks. She had many beloved nieces and nephews both in the US and Germany and enjoyed her role as “Aunt Margarethe”. She will be missed by family and friends and especially her loving children, Mary Ann and Tim Pashley (West Winfield, NY), Erin Murphy (Cambridge, MA), Thomas and Donna Murphy (Rome, NY), her grandson, Thomas E. Murphy, and her surviving siblings Brunhilde Börner, Manfred Schaller, Christine Haßman, and Bernd Schaller. Margarethe was a faithful member of Jehovah’s Witnesses for over 40 years and lived her life as a testament to her strong faith. Her congregation of friends and family will miss her greatly.

Margarethe was predeceased by her husband Thomas L. Murphy, her dear sister-in-law, Betty (Richtsfeld) Schaller, and siblings John (Johannes) Schaller, Ilse Schubert, Brigitte Kunze, Helga Haßman, and Hartmut Schaller.

Services for Margarethe will be private to the family. Her children wish to thank the staff at the Mohawk Valley Health Services Rehabilitation and Nursing Center for their expert care and friendship. Donations in Margarethe’s name can be made to the Herkimer County Humane Society or your local animal shelter.

Arrangements by Owens-Pavlot & Rogers Funeral Service.