Elizabeth Sierra Murphy
September 20, 1956 ~ October 14, 2014
Born in the small town of Elias Pina, on the Island of Hispaniola, in the Dominican Republic, near the border with Haiti, Elizabeth was the first person in all the generations of her family to graduate from university. And this university, the Autonomous University of Santo Domingo, was the first university in the new world, being founded 100 years before Harvard.
She had the capacity for reinventing herself. She grew up as the daughter of the Governor of her province and moved to the capital city of Santo Domingo to attend university. Receiving her degree in economics, she made the transition to work in a corner office of one the leading banks, managing the accounts of the major investors. She then made the transition to America, and her identity as wife and mother. She identified with this country and was proud to take the oath of citizenship as an American citizen.
As the mother of Kennan and Malaika Murphy, she proved herself an example to others through her dedication and sacrifice for the formation and education of her children. Often struggling herself to master English, she ensured that her children received the best possible education, motivating them to attend Montessori pre-school, Thomas Jefferson High School of Science and Technology and then Stanford University where she had the joy of seeing her son graduate just last June. Her philosophy was to expose her children to every kind of academic, cultural, sporting and artistic event and observe where the children would find their own unique identity and development.
She dedicated herself to volunteering at school and to participating in St. Luke Church activities, being one of the first participants in "Walking with Purpose." She never sought to put herself forward but she was recruited into managing the accounts and finances of the organizations where she volunteered.
Those who knew her, even the hospital and hospice staff, would fall under the spell of her tenderness and her charm. She faced pain and struggle with dignity and was supported by the love, prayers and presence of so many friends and family members. In the words of her husband, "she had such charm and was so endearing, that God wanted her back close to her."
Elizabeth was a woman who journeyed, from a small town on the periphery of her country to its capital. To continue her courtship, she traveled to Kenya to be with her then fianc, Kevin. She then journeyed from Santo Domingo to Boston University to study English and later to Virginia. She loved journeys all her life. And she has made the final journey to the place she had found such comfort and meaning, into the Presence of God.
Funeral Home:
Money & King Funeral Home
171 W. Maple Ave.
Vienna, VA
US 22180
She had the capacity for reinventing herself. She grew up as the daughter of the Governor of her province and moved to the capital city of Santo Domingo to attend university. Receiving her degree in economics, she made the transition to work in a corner office of one the leading banks, managing the accounts of the major investors. She then made the transition to America, and her identity as wife and mother. She identified with this country and was proud to take the oath of citizenship as an American citizen.
As the mother of Kennan and Malaika Murphy, she proved herself an example to others through her dedication and sacrifice for the formation and education of her children. Often struggling herself to master English, she ensured that her children received the best possible education, motivating them to attend Montessori pre-school, Thomas Jefferson High School of Science and Technology and then Stanford University where she had the joy of seeing her son graduate just last June. Her philosophy was to expose her children to every kind of academic, cultural, sporting and artistic event and observe where the children would find their own unique identity and development.
She dedicated herself to volunteering at school and to participating in St. Luke Church activities, being one of the first participants in "Walking with Purpose." She never sought to put herself forward but she was recruited into managing the accounts and finances of the organizations where she volunteered.
Those who knew her, even the hospital and hospice staff, would fall under the spell of her tenderness and her charm. She faced pain and struggle with dignity and was supported by the love, prayers and presence of so many friends and family members. In the words of her husband, "she had such charm and was so endearing, that God wanted her back close to her."
Elizabeth was a woman who journeyed, from a small town on the periphery of her country to its capital. To continue her courtship, she traveled to Kenya to be with her then fianc, Kevin. She then journeyed from Santo Domingo to Boston University to study English and later to Virginia. She loved journeys all her life. And she has made the final journey to the place she had found such comfort and meaning, into the Presence of God.
Funeral Home:
Money & King Funeral Home
171 W. Maple Ave.
Vienna, VA
US 22180
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Conoci a Elizabeth en Vancouver Canada en Agosto 2014. Fue un periodo corto, pero la conexion fue tan especial, que hoy siento como si hubiera perdido una hermana. Elizabeth todavia oigo tu vos, siento tu dulsura y ternura. Le doy gracias al universo por haber tenido la opurtunidad de conocerte, se que estaras en mi mente por el resto de mi vida.
Con todo mi amor