Obituary of Eugenia Borgia Murray

Eugenia Borgia Murray, age 84, of Westerleigh, New York, passed away peacefully on October 23, 2018 at the Clove Lakes Health Care and Rehabilitation Center on Staten Island. Funeral Service at the Matthew Funeral Home and Cremation Services Inc. 2508 Victory Blvd. on Sunday, 10/28/18, at 12:00 PM. Family and friends may visit on Saturday, 10/27/18, from 2:00 to 6:00 PM. Arrangements include a private cremation. Born in Manhattan, Eugenia lived her early childhood in the Bronx before moving to Camden, New Jersey. She graduated from James Madison High School then the Bellevue School of Nursing in Manhattan. In 1955, she and two fellow nurses began to sing professionally as The Belle Aimes. After winning the Arthur Godfrey Talent Show, the trio was signed by Mickey Baker to Rainbow Records, changed their name to The Bonnie Sisters, and made a dozen records, toured around the country, and performed in the Apollo Theater with Count Basie and on the Dick Clark Show. Their hit, "Cry Baby" made the Billboard Hot 100 in 1956. After returning to nursing, Eugenia met her husband, James Murray, while caring for his father. They and their children moved to Westerleigh in 1963 where she returned to college and graduated magna cum laude from Jersey City University College with a BA degree. She worked at the College of Staten Island as a senior lab tech and adjunct instructor for math, biology, and Adult Education. Among her many accomplishments, Eugenia co-authored a nursing math book, "Dosage Calculations," was a contributing editor to a nursing review book, published several nursing articles and had a letter printed in Dear Abby regarding home hospice care. She was a member of the Sigma Theta Tau Nursing Society and was recognized for her achievements in Who's Who in American Nursing. Her hobbies included knitting, crocheting, sewing, embroidery and counted cross-stitch. She was also an accomplished cook, but as a devout Jehovah's Witness, she always said her favorite thing to do was conduct home Bible studies. Her congregation was Port Richmond. Eugenia is survived by her two children, James Murray and his wife Corinne Takasaki, and Nicholas Murray. The family wishes to thank all those who cared for their mother over the last 12 months.