Frances Robb Murphy

She hung in there, she truly did. Till the absolute end. Frances — Fran, Franny, sis, Mom, Special Agent — Frances Robb Murphy died peacefully on Monday, September 9, 2024, surrounded by her loving family and friends after a lengthy and trying bout with Progressive Supranuclear Palsy. (No, we hadn’t heard of it either.) It’s an especially cruel condition yet still could not stop her, moving from Virginia to Kentucky, cheering on Sean to a gold medal at the swim meet, vacationing with her sisters in Miami… we’re tired just thinking about it all.

Frances was born in New York City and, as the song goes, has made it everywhere. She was raised in Princeton Junction, New Jersey, eventually excelling as a choir singer, stage manager, peer counselor, senior class secretary, and lifeguard. At Tulane University, she received a bachelor's degree in English and history, all the while having beads tossed at her. At Trenton State (now the College of New Jersey), she earned a master’s in special education and worked tirelessly in that field for 5 years before answering her true calling… the Federal Bureau of Investigation. [Insert dramatic music here.]

Frances dedicated 24 years of her life serving the United States as an FBI Special Agent, first in Washington D.C. and then out of their headquarters in Quantico, Virginia. She became a skilled investigator of national security crimes, specializing in violations of the espionage laws, and as a supervisor supporting the FBI's undercover program. Just a few unclassified examples of her work: She was part of the team that finally brought down notorious FBI counterspy Robert Hanssen, guilty of selling secrets to the Russians. And in the months following the terrorist attacks of September 11, 2001, Frances volunteered for one of the most difficult assignments, working long hours at the FBI morgue in the Pentagon. In 2009, Frances received the FBI Director's Award, the highest award given to a Special Agent, for her role in an investigation which resulted in the convictions of two former Department of Defense officials and their Chinese government handler. A colleague explained, “Being an FBI agent is one of the most coveted and prestigious jobs that one could ever dream of having. It demands the highest levels of academic achievement, sound judgment, and above all, fidelity, bravery, and integrity. Frances was the embodiment of what it means to be a Special Agent of the FBI, displaying all these qualities throughout her career. She is remembered by colleagues as a dedicated supervisor, mentor, and friend who maintained her sense of humor even in the most dire situations.” 

All the while, Frances held down a second, equally challenging but much less celebrated position — that of single mom. She recalled strategizing with the FBI Director on a government jet while simultaneously sewing her child’s Halloween costume. Frances brilliantly and tirelessly balanced her responsibilities until she was literally physically unable. 

In Frances’ spirit of giving, she will be donating her brain to the CurePSP brain donation program in partnership with the Brain Bank at the Mayo Clinic, Jacksonville, FL.

Frances is survived by her son Sean and daughter Cate who she loved more than anything in this whole crazy world and could not be prouder of, sisters Elizabeth Porter (Adam) and Megan Smetana (Zbynek (ZB)) — closer siblings you will not find, her wonderful parents Mary Jo and David Murphy, her nephews John Smetana and Thomas Smetana and loyal hound Mr. Knightley. 

Then there is a seemingly endless trail of amazing friends from school, church, the FBI, the neighborhood… Anywhere Frances went, she brought laughter, warmth, absolutely no nonsense, and in return earned eternal devotion. Which is why this doesn’t really feel like goodbye, because we all carry Frances with us, and always will.

 A funeral mass will be held at 10:00 a.m., Saturday, September 21, 2024, at the St. Leo Catholic Church with Father Santhosh Thomas officiating. Visitation will be held from 5:00 p.m. – 8:00 p.m., Friday, September 20, 2024, at the J.H. Churchill Funeral Home & Cremation Services. In celebration of her life, Frances asked that attendees wear pink to both services. Please feel free to wear the same thing both days. 

Expressions of sympathy may be made to CurePSP,https://www.psp.org/ways-to-give

To send a gift via mail, please make your checks payable to CurePSP and sent to: CurePSP 325 Hudson Street,4th Floor, New York, NY 10013 or to the Anna Mae Owen Residential Hospice House, 803 Poplar Street, Murray, Kentucky 42071.

 Online condolences can be made at, www.jhchurchill.com