Our beautiful and loving mother, Carol L. Murphy, passed away on December 10, 2024 in San Francisco with her children at her side.
Carol was born in Saginaw, Michigan to “Dutch” and “Bertie” Schwager. She was raised with her brothers Skip and Dick in Gladwin, Michigan, where they all worked hard in the family business, Schwager’s Department Store. After high school, Carol attended Marygrove College in Detroit. Upon graduating, she married Pat, and they lived initially in Germany while her husband served in the Army. Thereafter, they returned to the US to raise a family. They lived in various locations in Michigan, Iowa, and Missouri, until finding their long-term home in Honolulu, Hawaii. Despite being a midwestern girl at heart, one of our mother’s most admirable qualities was that she readily and enthusiastically embraced the people and practices of a new culture, and she was eager to share those unique perspectives and ideas with her young family.
Our mother spent most of her life teaching English for 50 years. She cherished the time with her students, and she was so proud of them and their accomplishments.
She worked tirelessly to ensure that her students had the necessary tools to reach their full potential and to succeed in life.
The most important thing to Carol was family! She devoted her entire being to us, her children, and always put us before her own interests. She was the ultimate supermom. She instilled in each of us at an early age the values of kindness and love and respect for others. She truly loved unconditionally.
Nobody was ever a stranger to Carol, and she was infamous for being able to talk to just about anyone. She always managed to see the good in everyone that she met and in any situation that she encountered. She was a fervent supporter of the underdog (including the Detroit Tigers), and she wasn’t afraid to defend and fight for what she thought was right.
Through it all, her smile was ever-present and infectious!
Faith was very important to Carol, and she shared that with us and with those around her. Prayer was a regular part of her life. Her actions throughout her life were guided by her strong connection to God and to the Catholic Church.
As those who knew her best will affirm, Carol was always fun to be around and always a source of humor.
She enjoyed music, laughter, a good party, a dirty martini, and the numerous gatherings of friends and family for a homemade meal at her house. She left us with so many wonderful, poignant, and beautiful memories of a life well-lived. We will miss her every day.
Carol was preceded in death by her son, Tim; her mother and father; and her brothers. She is survived by her three remaining children and their spouses/partners: Mike and Manny, Jim and Nicole, and Amy and Dave. She is also survived by her grandchildren: Jessica, Malia, Madalyn, Maile, Audrey, and Owen; as well as great-granddaughter, Ruby; in addition to cousins: Ellie, Yvonne, and Joey (all of whom were like sisters to her); cousins: Lanny and Marshall; nieces: Kelly, Krissy, Julie, Kim, Ann, Sue, Lauren; nephews: Mark, Vince, Steve, Mike, Brett, and Kurt; many great nieces and nephews, and numerous life-long friends.