Maureen Murtha Behringer Of Southampton Dies December 6

Maureen Murtha Behringer of Southampton died December 6, 2019, surrounded by her family. She was 87.

Born to Helen and Thomas Murtha on July 27, 1932, she attended St Elizabeth’s College, which she left to raise her large family. Later in life, she graduated from Suffolk Community College. In 1952, she married her childhood sweetheart, Thomas Behringer, and they eventually moved to Water Mill to raise their six children together.

Survivors said one word that describes Mrs. Behringer is love — love first and foremost for her husband of nearly 68 years and her family, but also for her friends and community. Her legacy lives on across three generations.

Mrs. Behringer was a passionate and loving role model for her family and members of the community. Family was paramount to her and she put her heart and soul into creating a loving, connected and fun family with her husband. She was the driving force behind organizing complex camping, skiing and beach celebrations for her clan while hosting community football games in the backyard. Taking tremendous pleasure from watching her many grandchildren and great-grandchildren thrive, she was happiest when surrounded by her big brood. Her community involvement was far reaching from the Water Mill Community Club and the Water Mill Museum to Southampton Hospital and the Basilica Parish of the Sacred Hearts of Jesus and Mary Church.

Rather than be a “golf widow,” she chose to embrace the game which led to many years of exciting experiences with her husband, not just locally but in Kiawah Island, South Carolina, and in England, Scotland, and Ireland as well. She took great pleasure from her extensive activities at Shinnecock Hills Golf Club, including a longstanding chairmanship of the Ladies Association and many U.S. Open marshaling experiences.

She was predeceased by her brothers, Robert and Thomas Murtha; and her son, Tim Behringer.

Mrs. Behringer is survived by her husband, Thomas; children, Kathy Dayton (Randy), Michael Behringer (Cheryl), Brian Behringer (Tracy), Kevin Behringer (Karen), and Peggy D’Onofrio (Ron); 15 grandchildren and 10 great-grandchildren.

The family will receive friends at the Brockett Funeral Home in Southampton on Friday, December 13, from 4 to 7 p.m. A funeral Mass will be held at the Basilica of the Sacred Hearts of Jesus and Mary on Saturday, December 14, at 9:30 a.m. The family is planning a reception in the spring.