100-year-old Gardner resident, Louise Murphy, continues to love living in the Chair City

The city of Gardner isn't the only one celebrating a 100th birthday - longtime Gardner resident Louise Murphy turned 100 on Feb. 25 this year.

The Murphy family has always gathered at the family's home on Peabody Street during holidays and birthdays, but this year it was extra special since Murphy was turning 100.

With excitement in her voice, Murphy said what made her 100th birthday even more special was all of the letters that she received from Gardner Mayor Michael Nicholson, state Rep. Jonathan Zlotnik, Gov. Maura Healey and President Joe Biden.

"We always do something special, we always have a joyous time," she said. "It was so special that I got all of those wonderful letters from the people who run the city and the country. "

A marriage filled with love

The Massachusetts native has lived in Gardner for over 67 years. Born and raised in Worcester, Murphy married her beloved husband James in September 1956, and moved to Gardner because he worked at the Gardner News. James Murphy, whose family had been in Gardner for several generations, worked at the paper for over 25 years.

Before moving to Gardner, Murphy was a secretary for the vice president of Worcester Fire Insurance Company for many years. In Gardner, she also worked as a secretary at Country Home Furnishing until it closed.

Murphy met her husband through a mutual friend who was dating James Murphy's friend at the time. Louise Murphy said she wasn't too enthusiastic about going on a blind date but she eventually gave in. At their first date the two clicked and never left each other's side.

"Believe me, it turned out to be the most wonderful thing that ever happened to me," she said. "We were both musical, our families got along, and it was a very beautiful marriage."

Murphy became part of the Gardner furniture industry legacy as she worked closely with the many furniture factories in the area. She said at some point they named a piece of furniture after her.

In addition to her own role in Gardner's furniture legacy, Louise's uncles were the founders of the Kelly Brothers furniture factory on Logan Street in Gardner, which was established in the 1880s.

Family life

While working, Louise Murphy still managed to raise three daughters, Donna Murphy, the eldest, and twins Sherill Murphy and Shelia Murphy.

One of the things that brought Louise and James together was their passion for music. Louise loves to sing, and James was a talented musician as well. The two would perform together during community events at the Holy Rosary Church. Louise Murphy said her voice is not the same but she still enjoys singing and listening to music.

"James was a wonderful musician, so we went well because I was a singer," she said. "That's why our marriage was so wonderful. We both loved each other and music."

Louise Murphy said her marriage was something beautiful and that James was a gentleman the whole time they were married.

"I remember the last year my dad was alive he held her every time she was next to him," Sherrill Murphy said. "It was just a beautiful one-of-a-kind relationship that they had."

Sherrill Murphy said her father did everything to keep her mother happy – he even made it snow for Louise one year because she wanted a white Christmas.

"He asked her what she wanted for Christmas, and she said she wanted it to snow," she said. "So, he went to the ice skating rink and got a bunch of fake snow to put in our front lawn for my mom. They were in love their whole lives."

Gardner will always be her home

When Louise Murphy first got engaged with James Murphy, everybody in the neighborhood wanted to meet James' fiancé to welcome her to the community. She said Gardner hasn't changed when it comes to neighbors watching out for their fellow neighbor.

Even though, Louise Murphy wasn't originally from Gardner, she said she never wants to move because of its tight-knit sense of community. She said her favorite place in Gardner is her home because that's where her friends and family gather.

"This is a city that has a small-town feel and it's very nice to live here because once your neighbors introduce themselves to you, then you have forged a friendship for life," she said. "The beauty of Gardner is the people. Everything is changing but the sense of neighbor watching out for neighbor is still the same."

This article originally appeared on Gardner News: Louise Murphy of Gardner enjoys 100th birthday, gets note from Biden