In 1996, the New York State Senate honored Sister Regina for her advocacy to prevent discrimination in the workplace. The following year, NETWORK, a National Catholic Social Justice Lobby, honored her as a Woman of Justice.

Sister Regina Murphy, Sister Thomas Marilda, was born November 2, 1939, in the Bronx, one of three children, two daughters and a son of Thomas and Catherine Cleary Murphy. Regina attended Saint Margaret of Cortona Elementary School in the Bronx and Academy of Sacred Heart of Mary in Manhattan. After graduating, Regina attended Marymount College in Tarrytown for two years before entering the Sisters of Charity of New York on September 8, 1959. Sister Thomas received a BA in English from College (University) of Mount Saint Vincent, an MA in English from Saint Louis University, and an MA in Religious Studies from Fordham University.

Sister Regina’s years of active ministry included assignments in elementary grades at Saint John the Evangelist, White Plains, and Saint Joseph, Yonkers, and high school level at Saint Barnabas, the Bronx, Saint Augustine College, Bahamas, and Religious Education at Holy Family Parish, Staten Island. She promoted Social Justice issues for the Congregation as Coordinator of Corporate Responsibility, Director of Social Concerns, Co-Founder and Director of the Intercommunity Center for Justice and Peace, and Director of Interfaith Center on Corporate Responsibility. Sister Regina was elected for two terms to the Leadership Council of the Congregation and served for seven years as its Property Manager. In retirement, she resided at Cabrini of Westchester where she died on June 12, 2025, in the sixty-sixth year of commitment as a Sister of Charity of New York.

In leadership roles, Sister Regina integrated social and corporate concerns with the call to seek justice for all people, particularly those forced to live and work in unfair conditions. She asked religious congregations of women and men to examine the business practices of the corporations they supported with investments and to join their voice in furthering human rights when violated. In 1996, the New York State Senate honored Sister Regina for her advocacy to prevent discrimination in the workplace. The following year, NETWORK, a National Catholic Social Justice Lobby, honored her as a Woman of Justice.

Sister Regina and her long-time friend, Sister Mary Donagher, chaired the Global Poverty Committee of the Congregation for many years, giving facts and causes of starvation and misery not often presented in the press. This essential work continues today. She was proud of her Irish heritage and very familiar with its history. She and Sister Mary attended many Irish cultural events and together learned to play the tin whistle.

Sister Regina, your ministry in pursuit of justice heralds the call of the Constitution of the Sisters of Charity “to be women of healing, sensitive to the wounds of persons and to the systemic evils of our times.” In your spirit of dedication, go to meet your Creator in peace.