TAUNTON, Mass. — Holy Union Sister Mary Elizabeth Murphy, 81, an educator for more than 50 years, teaching in many schools in the Fall River Diocese, died December 17, 2009 after a brief illness. Born in Boston, the daughter of the late Arthur and Elizabeth (Fair) Murphy of Taunton, she graduated from St. Mary High School in Taunton and entered the Holy Union Sisters in 1946 and pronounced her vows on Aug. 22, 1954. She received a bachelor’s degree in Religious Education from the Catholic Teacher’s College in Providence, R.I., and did graduate studies at Providence College, Fordham University, St. Michael’s College, the Catholic University of Puerto Rico, and Bristol Community College in Fall River. Her teaching assignments were at schools in Maryland, New Jersey and Rhode Island, and locally at Bishop Connolly High School in Fall River, and at Bishop Cassidy High School in Taunton. Sister Murphy served as the librarian at Coyle and Cassidy High School, also in Taunton, where she was honored with its Aquinas Service Award, the Alumni Service Award, and the Lifetime Service Award. Besides her Holy Union Sisters she leaves two sisters, Holy Union Sister Rosemary Murphy of the Catholic Memorial Home in Fall River and Marita Murphy of East Taunton; two brothers, Thomas Murphy of Taunton and Arthur Murphy of East Taunton; and nieces and nephews. Her Mass of Christian Burial was celebrated in St. Mary’s Church in Taunton. Burial was in St. Francis Cemetery, also in Taunton.