Martina Murphy Naimoli O’Connell passed away Jan. 22, 2025.
She was predeceased by her parents, James and Catherine Murphy; her first husband, Rudolph Naimoli; and her sister, Sr. Joanne Murphy.
Martina was born in New York City and raised in the Bronx. She attended St. Helena Elementary and Villa Maria Academy High School, then learned her trade as a Registered Nurse at St. Vincent’s School for Nursing.
Her first job as an R.N. was at St. Vincent’s Hospital. She met and fell in love with one of her patients, Rudy. They married in 1965 and moved to Staten Island where they had three children. They moved to Atlantic Highlands in 1975 and had three more children. Happiness was halted with the sudden death of Rudy after 18 years of marriage.
Martina met her second husband, Maurice, at a religious-sponsored retreat. They married in 1987 and were together for 37 years.
Martina held many positions as an R.N. over the years, but her favorite job was being a school nurse at Mater Dei High School. For 25 years there, she was known as “Ms. Nurse.” After retiring, she stayed at the school as a religious coordinator and organized many Kairos retreats for the students. She remained at Mater Dei until it closed in 2022.
Martina is survived by her six children, Annie Sullivan and her partner Kevin Walsh, Gregory Naimoli, Philip (Lynda) Naimoli, Thomas Naimoli, Susan Naimoli and her fiancé Neil McGarry and John (Colleen) Naimoli; eight grandchildren, Alexandria, Olivia, Helena, Lorenzo, Vienna, Luciano, Cameron and Ireland; sisters Regina (Pedro) Pericas and Julia (Frank) Fish; plus many nieces and nephews.
Visitation was held Jan. 26 at the John F. Pfleger Funeral Home, Middletown. A funeral Mass was offered Jan. 27 at St. Agnes Church, Atlantic Highlands. Burial followed at Bay View Cemetery, Leonardo.
The family would like to thank the members of Martina’s hospice care team and doctors Yu and Kelly of Memorial Sloan Kettering for their care and treatment of Martina.
In lieu of flowers, donations can be made in Martina’s name to Memorial Sloan Kettering at mskcc.org.
The article originally appeared in the February 6 – 12, 2025 print edition of The Two River Times.
