PROVIDENCE - Helen Margaret Menehan Murphy (Lovey) passed away on Sept. 14, 2010, in Providence, Utah. Helen was born on Jan. 24, 1924, in New York City, the only child of John and Helen Smith Menehan. She was raised in Dongan Hills, Staten Island, by her grandparents, William and Julia Louise Smith. There she spent a very happy childhood and spoke fondly of life at "137 Alter Ave." In 1940, Helen graduated from George Washington High School in New York City. For a brief time following high school she modeled for various department stores until her marriage to William J. Murphy on Dec. 20, 1941. They honeymooned in a furnished apartment between the Harlem and Hudson Rivers. In 1952, "The Murphys" left the city and headed out to the potato fields of Long Island, purchasing one of the original Leavitt homes. There they raised a son and two daughters.Helen was a devoted mother, grandmother, and great-grandmother, supporting her children in all their activities. She believed in community service and volunteerism. She served on many committees and boards too numerous to mention; her favorite being the years she served on the East Meadow School Board of Education. She never hestiated to voice her opinion.An avid genealogist, Helen directed the LDS Genealogical Library in Plainview, New York. She was one of the founding members of the Irish Family History Forum, the first Irish genealogy group existing between Boston and Florida. Through her tireless efforts, the membership grew to over 500. She felt connected to her ancestors and was very proud of her Irish heritage. She visited Ireland many times and co-authored, with her good friend James R. Reilly, "Marriages in the Roman Catholic Diocese of Tuam, Ireland, 1820-1829." At the age of 75, she tearfully left "8 Cottonwood Lane" and moved to the Knolls Retirement Community, where she worked as property manager until the age of 83.She is survived by her three children, William Joseph (Colleen), Kerry Maureen Dyslin, Kelly Kathleen James (Bruce); grandchildren, Kevin Dyslin (Viviana), Kathleen Reece (Jeffrey), Maureen Fiefia (Tianikumi), Joshua James, Jason James (Blanca), Maggie O. James; cousin, Fred King; niece, MaryAnn Murphy; nine great-grandchildren; and loving friend and caregiver, Berta Landaverry.Though Helen lived in Utah, (held hostage), with family for these last few years, she was a New Yorker through and through. Her heart and mind were never far away from New York, the place of her birth. A funeral mass will be held at St. Bridget's Roman Catholic Church in Westbury, New York. Condolences and remembrances may be shared at www.hjnews.com by clicking on the "Obituaries" tab."...until we meet again, may God hold you in the palm of His hand."