Obituary of Rae M. Murtaugh

Rae M. Murtaugh, (nee Matkin) of West Deptford, New Jersey, passed away peacefully on Tuesday, December 20, 2022. She was 97.

Legacy

Rae (Matkin) Murtaugh had many titles: Daughter, Wife, Mom, Grandmom, Bubby, Sister, Cousin, Aunt, Friend.

Rae's life began in Chester, PA and was the daughter of Samuel and Katie (Grabov) Matkin. Rae attended Darby High School, but left in her Junior year to seek employment to support her parents after her Dad became ill. She first worked at G&G Hosiery and then the Navy Test Lab. From there she attended the BOK Vocational Institute to learn how to rivet and soon after became Rae the Riveter. This is where she would meet the love of her life, Bernard Murtaugh (Murt). This love affair would last 61 years before the passing of her beloved Murt in 2007. In 1946, Rae and Murt eloped to marry in Atlantic City, NJ. Over the next 18 years Rae gave birth to one son and eight daughters. Rae was never idle. Along with raising nine children she stayed busy working in the school cafeteria and was very active volunteering her time as a member of St. Patrick's School PTA. She also took time to visit patients at Greenbriar Nursing Home and was a member of St. Patrick's Altar and Rosary Society. Rae worked many years at the Woodbury Country Club and in the Snack Bar at Underwood Hospital. After her children were grown, she would have lots of time to devote to her grandchildren. She never missed their sports games and attended numerous school plays, Halloween parades, dance recitals, graduations, sacraments and anything else that involved her grandchildren. Rae loved to knit and crochet.  She made countless hats, scarves, blankets and sweaters. Family was everything to Rae and serving God was her first priority. She started every day reading her Missal and praying the rosary. Going to the beach with her family was always Rae's happy place and where so many wonderful memories were made.

She was a tough old broad!

Family

She is the beloved wife of the late Bernard Murtaugh, Sr.; devoted mother of Susan (Steve) Hiles, Frances (Ron) Murtaugh, Catherine (Maria) Knoferl, Margaret Emmons, Mary (the late Andre) Thibodeau, Betsy Murtaugh, Therese Murtaugh and Katie Murtaugh and the late Bernard, Jr.; loving Grandmother of 23 and Great Grandmother of 15 and 1 anticipated; great great grandmother of 1.

Farewell Tribute

Relatives and friends are invited to attend her visitation on Friday, December 30, 2022 after 8:30 AM in the McGUINNESS FUNERAL HOME, 34 Hunter Street, Woodbury. Funeral Mass 11 AM in Holy Angels Parish at St. Patrick's R. C. Church, 86 Cooper Street, Woodbury. Interment Woodbury Memorial Park, West Deptford. In lieu of flowers memorial contributions may be made to St. John of God Community Services, 1145 Delsea Drive, Westville Grove, NJ 08093 or to St. Mary the Virgin Chapel, 1520 S. Delaware Street, Paulsboro, NJ 08066

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