Carol Jane Murphy, 78 of Austin, Minn., died Saturday, April 26, 2014, at Hillcrest Living Center of Wayzata, Minn. She passed away on The Feast of our Lady of Good Counsel, a day set aside to honor the Blessed Virgin Mary. For those who knew Carol her relationship with Mary was an important part of her Catholic faith.

She was born Oct. 1, 1935, in rural Easton Minn., to James and Thelma O’Rourke. She grew up on a farm on Walnut Lake, attended a one room schoolhouse and later graduated from Good Counsel Academy in Mankato, Minn. She obtained a nursing degree from St. Mary’s in Rochester Minn. Carol married Robert Murphy on April 16, 1966, at Our Lady of Mt. Carmel in Easton, Minn. They resided on the family farm in Austin.

Her love of helping people led her to an adventurous career in nursing. She worked directly with doctors performing some of the first open-heart surgeries at St. Mary’s in Rochester. Her career continued as a nurse in Yellowstone National Park. She later worked at Hormel foods as an occupational nurse. Carol thoroughly enjoyed her fellow nurses and the patients she worked with along the way.

Carol was a dedicated member of St. Augustine’s Catholic Church where she was active in the Council of Catholic Women and Minnesota Citizens Concern for Life. She enjoyed gardening, cooking, volunteering at church and working alongside her husband on the family farm.

In her later years she loved visits from her grandchildren and always appreciated the simple things in life. She filled our lives with laughter and was always a wonderful Christian example for her family.

Carol is survived by her son Patrick Murphy of Austin, her daughters; Mara Murphy of Austin, Colleen (Michael) Walz of Onalaska, Wis., and Brigid (Mark) Lund of Victoria, Minn.; six grandchildren: Gracie, Andrew, Gavin, Lydia, Jack and Emily; siblings: David O’Rourke of Wells, Minn., Tim O’Rourke of Wells, Minn. and Brigid O’Rourke of St. Louis Park, Minn.

She is preceded in death by her husband, parents and her brother Patrick O’Rourke.

A Funeral Mass will be celebrated at 11 a.m. on Thursday, May 1, 2014, at St. Augustine Catholic Church in Austin. A visitation will be held from 6 to 8 p.m. on Wednesday, April 30, 2014, with the Rosary beginning at 6 p.m. at Mayer Funeral Home in Austin. Visitation will also be an hour prior to the funeral mass on Thursday. Interment will be at Calvary Cemetery.

Memorials are preferred to the Alzheimer’s Foundation of Minnesota or Special Olympics of Minn. Arrangements by Mayer Funeral Home of Austin.

Online Condolences-www.mayerfh.com.