BERWICK – Eleanor Mathews Murphy, 90, a lifetime resident of Berwick and active community member, passed away Friday morning, Oct. 22, 2021 at the home of her daughter in South Berwick following a brief illness.

Eleanor was born August 25, 1931 on the family farm in Berwick, the second oldest child of Francis and Merle Mathews, and is a graduate of Berwick High School.

Eleanor and her husband, Francis, owned and operated the The Market Place convenience store and Murphy’s Take Out in Somersworth for 20 years, as well as Nirvana By The Sea Guest House on the Nubble in York Beach.

Active in the community all her life, she was a Boy and Girl Scout leader, member of the Berwick Board of Selectman, the budget committee, the Berwick Library was her passion, and when a seat in the Maine State Legislature opened, she filled it and then served in the legislature for almost 20 years.

While her hobby was politics, she also enjoyed crocheting, doing puzzles, and more recently going bowling.

She is predeceased by her husband, Francis T. Murphy; daughter, Melissa Kendall; and siblings Samuel and Harry Mathews, Joan Hashem, and Leslie Ouimette.

Survivors include her children Joseph Murphy of Dover, N.H., Katherine Wolfe of South Berwick and Eileen Dumont of Berwick; siblings Thomas Mathews of Berwick, Frances Therrien of Sanford, Marjorie Gagnon of Berwick and Carolyn Lazzaro of Rochester, N.H.; nine grandchildren; 17 great-grandchildren; and four great-great-grandchildren.

Visiting hours will be held 2 to 4 p.m. and 6 to 8 p.m. Thursday, Oct. 28 at Bibber Memorial Chapel of the Berwick’s, 62 Cemetery Rd., Berwick. A funeral service will held at the Chapel 11 a.m. Friday, Oct. 29, with Pastor Stephen MacLeod officiating. Burial will follow in Evergreen Cemetery.

Family flowers only please.

To share a memory or leave a message of condolence, please visit Maxine’s Book of Memories Page at http://www.bibberfuneral.com

Arrangements are in care of Bibber Memorial Chapel of the Berwick’s, 62 Cemetery Rd., Berwick ME 03901.

Memorial contributions may be made to the

Berwick Public Library

103 Old Pine Hill Rd.

Berwick, ME 03901, or

Berwick United

Methodist Church

37 School St.

Berwick, ME 03901



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