Prairie State Wire

Homewood, IL - Catherine "Cathy" M. Murphy, residing in Country Club Hills, Illinois, and Schererville, Indiana, passed away on January 14, 2025, at the age of 84. She is preceded in death by her husband, Fredrick R. Copp, her parents William Murphy and Mary Burke, her brother Joseph Murphy, and her sister Martha Oster. Cathy is survived by her children Jennifer (Bruce) Arrieta, Sean (Jessica) Copp, step-daughters Barbara (Walter) Sparks, and Cheryl Copp. She was a loving grandmother to Alex, Allison, Cayden, Austin, Erica, Monica, Christine, and Shawn, a devoted sister to Eleanor Coyne, and a beloved aunt to many nieces and nephews.

Cathy earned her Ph.D. in Mathematics from The Catholic University of America in 1968. She dedicated 56 years to Purdue University Northwest, where she held various roles including Professor of Mathematics, Department Chair, and Associate Dean of the College of Engineering and Science. Cathy was known for her passion for teaching, leadership, and commitment to higher education. Outside of work, she enjoyed cooking, reading, traveling, and creating lasting memories with loved ones.

A visitation service is scheduled for Friday, January 17, 2025, from 10:00 a.m. to 12:00 p.m. at Tews-Ryan Funeral Home in Homewood, Illinois, followed by a private interment. For more details, visit www.tews-ryanfh.com or call 708-798-5300.

In honor of Cathy's memory, donations to Shriners Children's Hospital are graciously accepted at donate.lovetotherescue.org.

To plant Memorial Trees in memory of Catherine M. Murphy, please visit the Sympathy Store through this link.

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