Please join with us in celebrating the life of Elsie Murray, who passed away on Wednesday, November 15, 2017.
Elsie graduated with high honors from Monessen High School in 1956 and matriculated at the University of Michigan at Ann Arbor (1956-57) before choosing her career in nursing. She graduated from St. Francis School of Nursing, Pittsburgh, PA in 1961 and was a Certificate Graduate from St. Francis School of Anesthesia in 1964. Elsie earned her BS in Anesthesia and Human Resources at La Roche College, Pittsburgh in 1984 and her Masters of Public Management (MPM) at Carnegie Mellon University in 1988.
Her extensive professional career began as a night nurse and head nurse of a medical-surgical unit at St. Francis Hospital in Pittsburgh (1961-62), continuing as a part-time RN (Med-Surgical Units) while studying as a full time Nurse-Anesthesia student until graduation 1964. She joined the St. Francis Hospital Staff as a CRNA and Clinical Instructor in their Anesthesia Department until 1972. Her family then relocated to New Jersey, where she became a full-time staff anesthetist (CRNA) at the Upper Saddle River Hospital, Greater Paterson General Hospital, North New Jersey (1972-79). Elsie subsequently returned to Pittsburgh as a staff CRNA at Columbia Hospital in 1979 and was soon promoted to Chief CRNA, Columbia/Forbes Metropolitan Health Center (1980-88); Clinical Assistant to Medical Services and part-time CRNA, Forbes Health System (1988-91); staff CRNA, Podiatry Hospital (1991-94); staff CRNA, West Penn Allegheny Health System (1994-2006); and staff CRNA, UPMC South Side Mercy Hospital from 2006 until retiring in 2011.
Recruited as a member of Chi Eta Phi Sorority Inc., Kappa Chapter (professional nursing society) in 1961, Elsie served as Program and Projects Committee Chair and Scholarship Chair and was active on various committees over the years. She also served as Grammateus, Anti-Basileus, and Tamias. As a relatively new member in the early 1960s, she was recommended by Soror Ewell to the Boule and elected as National Dean of Pledgees, serving in that role from 1961-72. Upon resuming active Kappa membership, she served as Basileus, Anti-Basileus, Grammateus, and Tamias, as well as chair of several committees in addition to serving on committees for Regional and Boule meetings when hosted by Kappa Chapter in Pittsburgh unto the present time.
Always a pro-active member, Elsie was elected to serve on both the local Pennsylvania (PA) District V and the PA Association of Nurse Anesthetists (PANA) Boards, rising to Vice President and President of both boards. After serving on several American Association of Nurse Anesthetists committees, she was elected as President of the PANA in 2004-05.
Elsie was an active member of the PA Autism Society of Pittsburgh since 1966, serving as a board member from 1982-88 and as a volunteer since 1984 at the annual Pittsburgh Grand Prix Races that benefit the Pittsburgh Autism Society and the Allegheny Valley School Autism Program.
Since 2008, Elsie was active as an Associate Member of the Gateway Medical Society of Pittsburgh, attending sponsored community programs, meetings, educational lectures, and other suggested programs, accepting volunteer opportunities as requested, and contributing positive support to benefit the society’s community programs.
Elsie’s viewing will be on Monday November 20, 2017 from 4-8pm at Jones Funeral Home, 2644 Wylie Ave., Pittsburgh, PA 15219 and her funeral will be Tuesday November 21 at 11 am at Bethel A.M.E. Church, 2720 Webster Ave., Pittsburgh, PA 15219. She was extremely well loved and respected. Sickness took her away from us at 79 years old, but she will always be in our hearts.
