Patricia Ann (Griffith) Murrah, age 81 of Monroe, passed away peacefully June, 7, 2024 at St. Vincent’s Medical Center following a short illness. She was born March 2, 1943, to Ted and Anna Griffith in Schenectady, N.Y.
Patricia is preceded in death by her parents, sister Nancy Griffith and son Stefan Murrah. Survived by husband Clint Murrah, son Brett Murrah, his wife Andrea, grandchildren Kyle Murrah, twins Kaylan and Casey Murrah and in-law brothers, nephews and nieces.
Patricia was a self-made woman in her own right. Her saga begins with the death of her only sibling Nancy during their teenage years. She spent every day after school in her bedroom for two years before deciding to come out of self-confinement and do something with her life. She started playing tennis and bowling, making new friends.
After graduating from high school, 9th in a class of 500-plus, Patricia enrolled in Mildred Elley College in Albany, N.Y., with a concentration in stenography (shorthand). She was quickly hired by General Electric’s real estate and construction operation in Schenectady in accounting, engineering and preparing potential architects and construction companies.
Then six years later she met her future husband there. She resigned with seven years of service after they married and transferred to Illinois. The birth of two sons and two more transfers brought them to Monroe in 1975 after GE opened their new headquarters in Connecticut. Sons Stefan and Brett completed all 13 years in Monroe schools.
Patricia has always needed to stay busy. Her first goal was to learn how to cook. She had relied on her mother’s cooking and couldn’t even boil an egg after getting married — and an excellent cook she became. It was a passion, preferring to prepare something different over going to a restaurant. The house became full of old cookbooks and hundreds of recipes from various sources. She often put her own twist on them to improve their taste. In her senior years, cooking shows became her main TV interest.
A basic housewife, cooking and raising two boys weren’t enough. After moving to Monroe, Patricia became an enthusiastic antique collector and self-taught floral designer, often incorporating a unique antique in her arrangements. She marketed her creations via special orders and shops in Monroe, Trumbull, Shelton and Newtown. Her home decorating ideas were also requested by the Monroe Historical Society. She gladly donated her time.
Patricia loved the outdoors and spent hours maintaining flower beds for years until several tick bites drove her back in the house, where for the rest of her life tended to house plants in every room. Yes, kitchen and bathrooms, too.
The family is going to miss this smart, loving and talented wife, mother and grandmother. She placed us all above herself. Family was everything to her.
Following the Murrah family tradition, services will be private and delayed for a future burial of ashes in the Griffith family plot alongside her parents, sister and grandparents.
In lieu of flowers, contributions can be made to Stefan’s favorite charity, St. Jude Children’s Research Center, 262 Danny Thomas Place, Memphis, Tenn.
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