Memorial Service
Obituary of Madeline M. Murphy
Madeline “Lynn” Johanna McCluskey (Auerbacher) Murphy passed away unexpectedly at her home on May 10, 2025, with her beloved daughter Renee Auerbacher and granddaughter Christina Rodriguez Ayat at her bedside. She was 85 years old.
Lynn was born in Morristown, NJ, to Dr. Harry and Madeline (Donnelly) McCluskey and was the eldest of three children, her brothers Hugh and Brian joining the family shortly after her. She attended and graduated from Oak Knoll High School and went on to attend St. Elizabeth College until she married Peter J. Auerbacher in 1959. They lived in both Washington, D.C. and Dallas, Texas respectively, while Peter attended Georgetown University and Southern Methodist University Dedman School of Law before returning to New Jersey, settling in Mendham in 1965.
Lynn and Peter raised their four children, Renee Karen, Kevin Peter, Mark Shiels and William Lyon in Mendham Township where Lynn resided for thirty-four years. She loved Mendham and appreciated being able to raise her family in such a wonderful community. She attended countless athletic events in Mendham to support her children and watched them compete in a variety of sports through their high school years. She was a woman of faith and was a parishioner of St. Joseph Church for more than 40 years. Lynn developed many lifelong friendships and was involved in countless activities during these golden Mendham years. They moved to Chester Township in 1999 where Lynn resided until relocating to Basking Ridge to live with her family only a few years ago.
In addition to raising her four children, Lynn began her working career in real estate while living in Mendham. She then took an administrative position with Ballantine Labs in Boonton, before moving on to work for AT&T at their corporate headquarters in Basking Ridge. She spent the last 20 years old her working career with AT&T, retiring as the Executive Assistant of International Affairs.
Lynn was very active in many groups including the Herb Society, Garden Club and several book clubs. She loved birdwatching, travel, opera and reading, but her biggest lifelong passion was gardening. She was also a foodie before there was such a thing. Lynn was a great cook, loved fashion and was a very sharp and colorful dresser. She made friends literally everywhere she went. After her husband Peter’s death in 1982, she remarried Jack Murphy in 1985 and they enjoyed many years pursuing their common interests of birding, traveling, laughing and entertaining. Lynn was, to say the least, an extrovert in both personality and character, as life was not a spectator sport for her. She was beautiful, inside and out, always leaving an impact on those she interacted with. She would often struggle to finish stories and jokes through her own infectious laughter and usually had to pass the tale along for someone else – usually Jack Murphy – to finish.
Lynn is predeceased by her parents Harry Brendan McCluskey and Madeline McCluskey, brothers Hugh McCluskey and Brian McCluskey, husband Peter Auerbacher, and son William Lyon Auerbacher. Lynn is survived by her life companion Jack Murphy, daughter Renee of Basking Ridge, NJ, sons Kevin (Nancy) of Gladstone, NJ, and Mark (Laurel) of Miami, FL, treasured grandchildren Christina, William, Andrew, Emily, Brendan, Madeline, Nicholas, and Macy, great granddaughter Zara, sister-in-law Peg McCluskey, former son-in-law Carlos Rodriguez, Michelle Auerbacher Moody, daughter in law and many cousins who will miss her dearly.
A memorial service will be held on Saturday, May 31st at 10 AM at the Presbyterian Church in Morristown, 57 E Park Pl, Morristown, NJ 07960. The family will receive guests at Renee’s home for a reception following services. In lieu of flowers, donations in Lynn’s memory may be made to Smile Train or St. Jude’s Children's Research Hospital.
