History & Staff

Ever since we were established we have approached life (and death) differently. While some just see the end of a loved one’s life as a time for grief and mourning, we prefer to think of it as a time for reflection, appreciation and even celebration. This is evident in everything we do, from the way we conduct our services to the amenities we choose to offer. We are not a burial ground. We are a close knit community dedicated to honoring, sharing and preserving the amazing and inspirational stories that are life.

Why Us?

In a nutshell? Experience, professionalism, compassion, and empathy.

We've learned a lot over many years. Like how to present options without overwhelming. And how to meet the needs of many caring parties. People come to us in difficult times, and we respond kindness, calmness and expertise. Our goal is to create a beautiful occasion and make you feel welcome, always. We spend our days planning with families. We stay up to date with industry developments. And we make hard times a little easier.

In 1870, Tipperary native, John P. Murphy (1841-1879), founded a furnishing and undertaking enterprise in Trenton, New Jersey having learned his trade by working for a local undertaker and upholster in the city. An enterprising young man, John saved his money, purchased a funeral wagon, horses and several other coaches to open his business. His younger brother, James J. Murphy (1847-1901), later joined him in America and the business.

In 1879, tuberculosis took John and shortly thereafter his wife, Mary. His brother, James, assumed ownership of the business and it is with James that the growth of the funeral home begins.

In 1883, James built a new and larger facility to adjoin St. Mary’s Cathedral. As James was the only Catholic undertaker in the city, this move provided greater convenience for the families he served. His was the first funeral business in Trenton to have parlors associated with its establishment. The parlors accommodated those who lived in apartments or had no home in the immediate area in which to receive mourners. The upholstering room and other storerooms were located behind the funeral parlors alongside of larger stables that housed a greatly expanded livery. As was the custom, the Murphy family lived above the business.

James gradually developed a large patronage and was the first in state to introduce the new Berlin coaches. He was described as a popular, active and enterprising man who gave personal attention to every detail of every funeral. As his reputation increased, so did his livery. James traveled extensively to purchase perfectly matched black, white and grey horses and he wisely expanded his business to provide horses and carriages for weddings and other large occasions within and outside the city.

On October 10, 1901, James died suddenly of heart failure, leaving his wife and eight children. His widow, Catherine Murphy (1854-1925), assumed management of the family business. A smart, pragmatic woman, she moved quickly to ensure the public that her husband’s business would continue in his image by placing many paid notices in the area newspapers. Running the business was not an easy task, but Catherine proved to be a far-sighted and progressive businesswoman, purchasing the first auto-hearse in the state in 1910.

After fifteen years of managing the funeral home, Catherine sold the James Murphy Establishment in 1916 to her son, Martin William Murphy (1884-1939). While Bill purchased the business, Catherine retained ownership of the property and continued to live above the funeral home until her death on Christmas day in 1925.

Soon after his mother’s death, Bill purchased the property on which the business and its barns stood, changing the name of the enterprise to the M. William Murphy Funeral Home. Bill was active in many civic interests and during the Great Depression, was the head of the WPA for the counties of Mercer, Burlington, Monmouth and Ocean which took over 6,500 men and women from relief rolls and gave them jobs. Bill Murphy died in 1939 having operated the funeral business for twenty-three years.

Following his death, the proprietorship of the funeral business passed to his widow, Rose Murphy (1886-1962). Her youngest child, Henry B. Murphy (1925-2013), upon his return from World War II, entered the funeral business, assuming responsibilities as an embalmer and funeral director.

Although Rose owned the business, Henry essentially ran it, shepherding it through a devastating fire in 1956 that necessitated demolition and re-building of the funeral home. In 1962, Rose died after owning the funeral home for twenty-three years. Following her death, Henry assumed proprietorship of the business, greatly expanding it and building a second funeral home in Hamilton Township in 1971.

Like his father, Henry was devoted to the city and its residents, becoming active in many endeavors, serving for eight years as a city Councilman and as a member of the planning board.

Henry’s younger daughter married Mark Arnold, who in 1994, joined him in the funeral business. Together they closed the main office at 149 N. Warren Street in Trenton, relocating it to 935 Parkway Avenue in Ewing Township. In 2004, after forty-two years of ownership, Henry sold the business to his son-in-law, who has operated and expanded the business since that time.

Established in 1870, the Murphy Funeral Home has been at the forefront of dedicated service for nearly one hundred fifty years. Throughout four generations of family ownership, the Murphy name has been synonymous with personal service and attention to detail that adds to the dignity and reverence of a final tribute.