The La Mirada City Council recognized resident Janice Murphy at its City Council meeting on November 14 for her 90th birthday.
Janice Murphy was born in Huron, South Dakota on November 28, 1933. Her family moved to Southern California in the late 1930s where Janice grew up and graduated from Huntington Park High School in 1952.
At the age of 23, Janice was a single mother of two girls and worked as a secretary at Byron Jackson Pumps, where she met Navy veteran and future husband, Donald Murphy. Janice and Donald were married on July 2, 1957, and together had two sons shortly after.
In January 1961, Janice and Donald moved to La Mirada and became one of the City’s original homeowners. All four of their children attended Charlotte Anthony Elementary School, Los Coyotes Junior High School, and William Neff High School. Janice returned to the workforce as a secretary after her youngest started school. She retired in 1995 from Bechtel Engineering Corporation.
Since the mid-1970s, the Murphy family has attended the La Mirada Church of the Nazarene, where Janice continues to be an active member and serves on various committees.
Janice and Donald were married for 54 years before his passing in 2012. Janice enjoys playing cards and bingo with her friends, attends sporting events for her six grandchildren and 19 great grandchildren, and remains committed to her faith.
The City of La Mirada Birthday Recognition program recognizes La Mirada residents on their milestone anniversaries and birthdays. The City’s Recognition Program includes 80th, 90th, and 100th birthdays and 50th, 60th, and 70th wedding anniversaries.
To sign up for the recognition program, contact the La Mirada Community Services Department at (562) 943-7277.