In Memoriam

Post by Lena Aburdene (This is a memorial in honor of Dr. Kelly Murray and her daughter Sloane, who were recently killed during a torrential storm in the Washington, DC area.)

I recently graduated with my second Masters degree in Pastoral Counseling from Loyola College.  Part of my reason for selecting this program was because I really wanted to help people who were suffering and in deep crisis.  Over the course of the past three years that I spent at Loyola, I gained an amazing family of students and faculty who shared the same passions as I did and were dedicated to constantly extending themselves to others in need.

On Friday June 26th, one of the faculty members of my small, close-knit Loyola community was tragically killed, along with her 7 year-old daughter Sloane (pictured above) by a falling tree branch during an intense storm.  Dr. Kelly Murray (pictured above) was an amazing woman to say the least.  Not only was she an associate professor at my school, she had her own private practice and was the dedicated mother of 6 daughters, ages 10 months – 12 years.  I remember walking by Kelly’s office and always making a point to stop and admire her door, which was completely covered in art work by her daughters.  I was always in awe of a woman who could handle being a mom to 6 kids, a wife, a published author, an educator, a soccer coach and a dedicated therapist.  Kelly also founded GirlsUP, an organization that seeks to “provide an opportunity to improve a girl’s sense of self and collective spirit to meet life’s challenges confidently.”

Over the past 3-4 years that I was in the Pastoral Counseling program, I worked with cancer patients (both children and adults) and the mentally ill and homeless who were also suffering from addictions and many times, serious cases of post traumatic stress disorder.  Working with people in deep crisis can often lead you down a dark path and I credit my continued strength, optimism and hope to the guidance and support of all the teachers in my program.  I don’t think I would be where I am today or be able to continue in the work that I do without them.  Kelly and Sloane Murray will obviously be missed more than words can describe.

Kelly and Sloane are survived by Kelly’s husband Sean and the remaining 5 daughters: Jillian (12), Meghan (11), Maeve (6), Quinn (2) and Kieran (10 months).  Because Sean and Kelly worked so hard to support their family, there is a scholarship fund being set up to help put the girls through college.  They will need a lot of support to make up for their financial loss in the future.  If you feel inclined to make a donation to the fund, payments can be made to the Murray Scholarship Fund (send checks to Kelly McMahon, Attn: Murray Scholarship 3908 Leland St, Chevy Chase, MD 20815).

Please take a moment today to feel deep gratitude for the loved ones you have in your life and to also remember the ones that are no longer with us, who have touched our lives and made us who we are.

Photo credit: Beth Jansen Photography (www.bethjansenphotography.com)

Photos: Kelly Murray, Sloane Murray (age 7)

Kelly and her daughters: Meghan, Jillian, Maeve, Quinn and Sloane