Gabriela “Gabby” Murphy passed away peacefully at home on April 1, 2026 — a life filled with love, service, and gratitude.

Gabriela was the second of twelve children born to Amelia and Jose Homem on October 25, 1927, in Terceira, Açores. As one of the eldest children, she was tasked with caring for her younger siblings. They spent their days playing along the rock wall that bordered their property, often speaking a version of “English” they created themselves, dreaming of one day living in the United States. Gabriela valued education deeply, though she had to cut her own schooling short to help support her family.

At just eight years old, she began working as a nanny, caring for infants through the night and assisting working mothers during the day, including families connected to the American base. While nannying for her cousin Irma Azevedo, who worked as a chief telephone operator at the American Army base, Gabriela met the love of her life, Robert “Bob” Murphy — a handsome 6’2” military police officer with the U.S. Army. It was love at first sight. Gabriela spoke no English, and Bob spoke no Portuguese, but they shared a language beyond words. With Irma serving as both translator and chaperone, their bond grew quickly.

Bob knew he did not want to lose this irreplaceable Portuguese girl with an unforgettable hour glass figure and soon asked for her hand in marriage. On March 31, 1947, they were married at nineteen, in a civil ceremony and began their journey to the United States aboard an Army cargo plane. They first lived in Louisiana, Bob’s home state, before settling in Arcata, to be closer to her aunt, Jesuina.

It was in Arcata that Gabriela began the work that would define her life and change the course of generations. After becoming a United States citizen in 1952, she took on the immense responsibility of navigating the sponsorship process to bring her family to America.

Through her work as a nanny for local business owners and physicians, Gabriela built lasting relationships that would prove instrumental. These families became sponsors, offering employment opportunities for her siblings upon their arrival. Gabriela and Bob also ensured that each family had a place to live, often sharing homes until they were able to stand on their own. Over the next 15 years, she successfully helped bring her parents and all of her siblings to the United States — turning childhood dreams into reality.

Once her family was settled in Arcata, Gabriela naturally stepped into the role of guide, advisor, and caregiver. She helped with everything — renting homes, setting up utilities, finding doctors, and accompanying family members to appointments. She was, in every sense, an angel on earth.

Her home became the center of family life. Holidays were always celebrated there, with Thanksgiving being especially memorable. Tables filled the kitchen and living rooms, and the house overflowed with food, laughter, conversation, and love. Many of the family’s most cherished memories were made under her roof. She was also the first to bathe many of the babies born into the family — a quiet but meaningful role she carried with pride.

Though she once believed she would not have children of her own after helping raise so many others, she and Bob were ultimately blessed with seven: Bobby, Billy, Rita, Dreena, Linda, Larry, and Christina. Her children were her world, and she raised them with the same devotion, strength, and sense of responsibility that defined her life.

Later, Gabriela worked at Mad River Hospital in the kitchen and as a custodian at Humboldt State University, where she developed a special connection with colleagues and students. She loved being around young people and often shared wisdom drawn from her remarkable life experiences.

Gabriela worked tirelessly well into her 70s as a housekeeper for the families who had helped sponsor her siblings. She never forgot their kindness and felt a deep sense of gratitude and responsibility to give back.

Her home was always open. Guests came and stayed — for a day, a week, or even a year. She believed in helping anyone in need, just as others had once helped her family.

When Bob could convince her to step away from work, they enjoyed traveling to Louisiana and Hilmar to visit family. She loved trips to Reno with her mother and sisters and especially cherished attending the Our Lady of Miracles Celebration in Hilmar, where she would stay up through the night in prayer, giving thanks for the many blessings in her life. One of our favorite memories was at 78, while on cruise to the Caribbean she kicked her leg as high as a rockette on a dare. She continued these high kicks till she was 98. For the last 25 years she looked forward to yearly family trips with her children, grandchildren and great grandchildren spending quality time together watching movies, building puzzles, singing songs and dancing. She enjoyed every minute with a smile on her face and joy in her heart.

Gabriela and Bob dedicated countless hours volunteering at St. Mary’s Church, helping with bonanzas, securing donations from local businesses, and raising funds for the construction of the church. Their faith and service were central to their lives.

For their 50th anniversary, Gabriela and Bob were married in the very church they helped build — a moment filled with love, pride, and the presence of family and friends.

Gabriela approached life with unwavering gratitude, even in difficult times. She often reminded others, “You have to take the good with the bad,” and would point to the sky and say, “Only God knows” and “A lingua diz tudo”

It is impossible to fully capture who she was to her family. How do you honor someone who dedicated her life to making others’ lives better? You live as she did- with an open heart and home, filling others with care and love, never forgetting where you came from, and believing in where you can go with “GRIT” and a dream. She will be heavily missed by everyone who was blessed with her presence and her signature pinky swear.

She was immensely proud of her grandchildren — Nick, Neil, CJ, Alex, Nick, Bella and Rae — her great-grandchildren, Aliyah, Giana, Alyus, and Zora. She encouraged them to pursue education, follow their dreams, and believe that anything was possible. She was especially proud of her granddaughter Alex, who graduated from medical school and starts residency in June — a full-circle moment for a woman who held deep respect for the physicians who helped her family.

She is survived by her children Rita -Steve, Dreena, Larry, and Christina-Michael; her grandchildren and great-grandchildren; her brother Jose-Gloria and sister Durvalina; and many beloved nieces, nephews, and extended family members.

She was preceded in death by her husband Robert; children Bobby, Bill, and Linda; her parents Amelia and Jose; and her siblings Maria dos Santos, Fernando, Maria Jose, Antonio, Natalia, Albino, David, and Avelino.

Gabriela’s casket bearers will be her grandchildren and great-grandchildren.

The service will be held on Thursday, April 9, 2026, at St. Mary’s Catholic Church in Arcata, with the Rosary at 10:30 a.m. and the Funeral Mass at 11 a.m. with a reception to follow in the narthex and Interment will be at St. Mary’s Catholic Cemetery.

Memorial contributions may be made in Gabriela’s honor to Hospice of Humboldt, 3327 Timber Fall Court, Eureka, CA 95503. A special thank you to Hospice care; Lisa, Melissa, Rose, Samantha, Deane and deeply grateful to her children, grandchildren and great grandchildren for their tireless love and care during this difficult time.

Arrangements under the direction of Sanders Funeral Home, Eureka.

###

The obituary above was submitted on behalf of Gabby Murphy’s family. The Lost Coast Outpost runs obituaries of Humboldt County residents at no charge. See guidelines here. Email news@lostcoastoutpost.com.