Casandra Paige Murphy-Betham, of West Deptford
Sunday, November 12, 2023
Surrounded by her loving husband and mother, Casandra passed peacefully on November 4, 2023, at the age of 33. Of West Deptford. Formerly of Westville. Wife of husband Ian V. Betham, the love of her life. Cherished daughter of Stacey Murphy and the late Roland Webster. Loving sister of Zachary Murphy. Beloved maternal granddaughter of Ruth Murphy and the late Thomas J. Murphy and paternal granddaughter of Walter and Ceceil Nunes. Beloved niece of Eileen and Chuck Kaighn and LeeAnn Farrell.
Cassie was a graduate of Gateway Regional High School class of 2008. She went on to receive her bachelor’s degree in psychology from Rutgers University, graduating Magna Cum Laude.
Casandra was well known for bringing people together. She moved through her life taking everyone with whom she crossed paths deep into her heart and had an innate desire to help anyone who was vulnerable, lonely, or in need. She worked in various capacities of social work, always lending her voice to the voiceless, always advocating for others, and became a massage therapist as well in her quest to help others heal.
Casandra was a devoted daughter, granddaughter, and niece. She had an extremely close bond with her mom, brother, and grandparents in particular, spending time with them constantly and always connected her family life over into her social life so the two worlds blended and were never kept separate. Her mom was her rock and guiding light, so solid and so unconditionally loving that she even became a surrogate mom for so many of Cassie’s friends who Cassie knew would be welcome in their home. She directly derived her strong, nurturing spirit from her mother. Watching Casandra build her own family with her adoring husband and love of her life Ian was one of the most beautiful privileges to all who knew her. Their bond and devotion to one another was so pure, so effortless, even the most cynical of people couldn’t help but concede that soulmates really do exist. Together they brought everyone who loved them along on their beautiful journey. From the earliest days of pursuit and the beautiful innocence of realizing they’d found their person in one another as they tumbled deep into love, to the wild freedom and spontaneity of their adventures leading up to marriage, to buying their first house and making it home together, the love they shared was and remains the gift that keeps on giving.
Casandra also built a huge extended family out of all the friends and loved ones she made, attracting the best people to her circle and connecting them all with one another. Because of Cassie’s magnetism, she served as the glue between so many people who would never have met if not for her, her heart acting as the seed from which countless new bonds and even families grew.
She was an adoring aunt and “spirit mother” to her niece Willow and to many other children who were part of her extended chosen family including Henry, Owen, Kevin, Autumn, Natalia, and Baby Dom, and she was and will continue to be a brilliant pillar of light in all of their lives.
And to her best friend Amanda, Casandra was the other kind of soulmate; a sister, connected by heart, always able to feel each other as if they had twin souls, and with years' worth of future plans of being crazy old ladies together. Casandra’s voice will be conjured in her best friend’s mind for the rest of all time, and she will still be a crazy old lady, talking to the empty seat beside her knowing that in some way Cassie is there, and is probably cackling at how crazy she must look to anyone passing by.
Casandra also loved animals as much as she loved people and took so much joy from looking after “the zoo”, as she would sign on cards, drawing a little paw print for each of her cats and dogs. Casandra will be remembered as the rock, the glue, the planner, the voice of reason, and the guaranteed sense of comfort and safety to all of her closest friends and family. Equally as important, she will be remembered as one of the most hysterically funny people any of them have ever known, always able to pull someone out of the darkness and remind them why life is so beautiful, so fun, and so very worth living.
Relatives and friends are invited to her viewing on Sunday, November 12th from 11 AM to 1:30 PM at the McCANN-HEALEY FUNERAL HOME, 851 Monmouth St., Gloucester City, NJ 08030, where friends are family members will be encouraged to share their memories beginning at 1:30 PM. Interment will be private.
In lieu of flowers, donations can be made via Venmo to: @CasandraMurphy
Condolences and Memories may be shared at www.mccannhealey.com under the obituary of Casandra Paige Murphy-Betham. Funeral Arrangements and Inquiries may be made through: McCann-Healey Funeral Home: Gloucester City. Ph: 856-456-1142