Jeanne-Marie Murphy Obituary

Jeanne-Marie Murphy died peacefully on June 13, 2025 from cancer at her home in Alexandria, VA surrounded by her family who lovingly supported her during these last years of her illness.
She was head of federal government affairs and a senior vice-president of Bank of America and later elected (2004) as vice-chairperson of the Government Affairs Council of the Financial Round Table (consisting of 100 leading financial institutions). She was a trailblazer for women in financial services, one of the last men's clubs in Washington. and was known as "the girl singer in the band". She was a leading member of Women in Housing and Finance. She later formed her own consulting company, Murphy Associates.
Jeanne-Marie was a graduate of Marywood Seminary and Marywood University, Scranton. She excelled in forensics (speech and debate) which served her well in her later career. After graduation, she taught English at West Scranton High School. She later pursued her interest in government and politics in Harrisburg before moving to Washington where she worked with the Independent Bankers Association of America before joining the Credit Union National Association as vice-president, Congressional Affairs. She addressed audiences around the country and abroad as guest of the international credit unions. She was the government affairs director for Beneficial Corporation (1996-1998) before moving to Bank of America.
She was born in Scranton, PA, to a public service and railroad family. She was the eldest child of Mae (McDonnell) and Terrence Murphy. During World War II, her father served in bombing raids over Berlin with the "Mighty Eighth" Air Force.
Beyond her accomplishments on Capitol Hill, she was proud of her Irish American ancestry and the opportunity to meet Irish American guests during the annual Taoiseach's St Patrick's Day Celebration at the Irish embassy. She spent summers in Ireland for decades exploring Connemara and tracing her Murphy ancestry in Cong, Co Mayo. (She was first to return in a century). Success in becoming an Irish citizen brought her great joy. When she learned that the last Home Rule Club was to be auctioned off, she threw her formidable mobilisation skills into the preservation group, eventually saving the historical Kilkenny HRC and its Georgian premises for posterity.
At home, she enjoyed her turn as literary (and culinary) host for her monthly book club. She especially enjoyed family occasions. As a coming of age gift, she delighted in taking each of her nephews and nieces on a tour of Ireland and other countries.
Jeanne-Marie saw affordable housing as an unmet public need and on many Saturdays, she was active in the house-building team with the Habitat for Humanity Bank of America partnership. She mentored many low income women's groups on financial literacy.
Jeanne-Marie is deeply missed by her cherished survivors, husband Michael, brothers Terry (Barbara) and Kevin (Mary Ann), beloved nephews Brendan and Conor and nieces Erin, Kate and Maura, grand nephews and nieces, other loving family members, as well as her wide circle of stalwart friends and colleagues.
Requiem Mass at Blessed Sacrament Church, Alexandria on Friday, July 25, at 11 a.m. with later interment at Scranton Cathedral Cemetery. In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to St. Jude Children's Research Hospital.
"Ní bheidh a leithead arís ann" , Tomas Ó Criomhthain. (We shall not see her like again).