Sr. Margaret Anna Murphy OP

Sister Anna Murphy, (Margaret M.) a Dominican Sister of Tacoma, died peacefully at St. Joseph Residence on August 28, 2025. She was 89 years old.

She was a native of County Wexford, Ireland, and entered our postulate in Crosshaven in Ireland. She came to the United States in 1957. Following profession, she began a long ministry of elementary teaching in Washington and in California. One of her students recently remarked that she was “the best first grade teacher” and the class still remember her at their reunions.

Sister Anna loved parties and sharing life and laughter with others. One memorable trip was the Lands of St. Dominic. She was delighted to travel the road of Dominic and never tired of sharing her trip and pictures with others. She also loved her family in Ireland. As “Aunt Peg” she shared her life with them via phone calls, emails and visits when possible.

Sister Anna always had a fond appreciation for the older sisters, and when she retired from teaching, she began working with our retired sisters. At first, she did this part time assisting the sisters living in a local convent. When the convent closed, our sisters moved to St. Joseph Residence (a Providence facility offering skilled and assisted living for sisters). Because of our covenant with the Sisters of Providence, the Tacoma sisters move there when they need care. 

Sister Anna began a long ministry as Coordinator for Care for the Dominican Sisters, a ministry she viewed as “servant ministry.” In this role, Sister Anna made sure that the social, spiritual and physical needs of the sisters were cared for. She always made sure that the feasts of St. Dominic and St. Thomas Aquinas (our patron) were remembered and celebrated. The sisters describe Sister Anna as compassionate, generous, sensitive and practical.

Services for Sister Anna are at SJR for the Vigil, September 22, at 3:30 and the funeral Liturgy on September 23, at 11:00. The burial will be on September 24, at 1:30 at Calvary Cemetery in Tacoma

Donations may be made to the Sisters of St. Dominic Retirement Fund, 1801 Lind Ave. SW. – C, Renton WA 98087.