John (Jack) Murphy

John (Jack) Murphy passed away peacefully after a long and difficult illness on February 24, 2023. He was the proud son of immigrant parents, John J. and Nora Murphy and loving brother to Peggy (Murphy ) Loughin of West Chester. Jack was a man of honor and service throughout his life and proud of his Scotch/Irish heritage. After graduating from St Agnes’s high school in West Chester, he went on to receive a degree in Economics from his much-loved Villanova University. Upon graduating from Villanova, he enlisted in the United States Army and served his country for two years in Germany.

After returning from military service as a ranking Sergeant, he met and married his first wife Marianne, with whom he enjoyed 28 years of marriage before her untimely passing, and with whom he shared 4 children and 4 grandchildren.

During those years, and for all his years to come, Jack was a man of service to many organizations, including the Fame Fire Co in West Chester and the Knights of Columbus. He also served on the boards of the West Chester Lions Club, the Greater West Chester Chamber of Commerce, and was on the membership committee of Kennett Square Golf & Country Club. He enjoyed playing golf at the “Club “with his golfing friends in the “Frogs” for many years and was Frog of the year in 2015. Jack was a longstanding member of the Elks Club in West Chester and served as their president for a number of years.

Jack enjoyed a long and successful career in Property and Casualty insurance. He was Vice President of Claims for Penn Mutual Insurance Company in West Chester before retiring in 2006.

Upon marrying again, Jack moved to Kennett Square and became an integral part of the Kennett community as well as his much-loved Saint Patrick’s Church community. His 12-year retirement career at Brandywine Living at Longwood gave him great joy serving as a driver, assisting those in need with his typical “Jack” respectful kindness and compassion.

Jack’s greatest love has always been his family and friends and to be there for every family affair and vacation, ball game, concert, and awards presentation as the proud POP!!! He was also a lifelong Eagles and Phillies fan.

He is survived by and will be terribly missed by his wife and soul mate Ethel Ann, and loving and caring children-in-love, John Anthony (Karen), Clare Crossan (John), and Jennifer D’Amico (Vince); as well as The Magnificent 7 grandchildren- in-love, Theresa Crossan, John Crossan, Jonathan Anthony, Maggie Anthony Strickler (Max), and Christopher, Brendan and Matthew D’Amico; his sister Peggy Loughin; many nieces, nephews, and two greatnieces. The family would like to thank all the angels at Brandywine Living in Kennett Square, and Core & AccentCare Hospice in Christiana Hospital in Delaware for their kind and compassionate care of our Hero, “Gentlemen Jack”!

You are invited to Jack’s Memorial Mass of Christian Burial at 11:00am Friday, March 3, 2023, at St. Patrick Catholic Church, 212 Meredith St. Kennett Square, PA 19348. Visitation before the service will be from 9:00am - 10:45am at 401 N. Union St. (Chapel of Church of the Advent) Kennett Square. Interment will follow the Memorial Mass in St. Patrick Cemetery, Kennett Square. In lieu of flowers, donations in memory of Jack may be made to Barry Fragale Special Needs Trust, C/O Fragale Brothers Barber Shop, 105 S. Union St. Kennett Square, PA 19348, or to the Lewy Body Dementia Association. https://www.lbda.org/donate/

Arrangements are by Matthew Grieco of Grieco Funeral Home & Crematory, Inc. (484-734-8100) of Kennett Square. To view Jack’s online tribute, please visit www.griecofunerals.com