HANNAH Murphy, 100 years old, who featured on the front page of the Irish Voice with her best friend Millicent Beckford back in October, passed away on Thursday, January 10 in Montefiore Hospital in the Bronx.Murphy, who came to the U.S. when she was 17 from Co. Kerry, was exactly 100 years and 72 days when she died. She developed pneumonia over the Christmas period and was admitted to hospital. Although she was left home for a few days in the New Year, her condition worsened and she was re-admitted early last week.Beckford, who took Murphy into her home in the Bronx nine years ago, was upset at the passing of her dear friend. "I looked after her since she was 91 and I did everything right by her and now I will miss her dearly," said Beckford, who is a Jamaican immigrant.Beckford made sure that Murphy celebrated her turn of the century in style. She decorated their modest three bedroom apartment with balloons, she bought a cake, invited the neighbors over and had Sister Christine Hennessy from the Aisling Irish Community Center in Yonkers say prayers with Murphy, who was al-ways very religious. The Irish Voice was also present at Murphy's birthday celebrations, witnessing her joy and songs. "She sang Happy Birthday to me on the phone," remembe-red Joan O'Sullivan, Murphy's niece who came from Ireland on Friday.Beckford, who gave her next-door neighbor a room in her home when she was no longer able to look after herself, told the Irish Voice that Murphy was always a pleasure to live with. "Oh boy, did she love her cup of Irish tea, she used to have it so strong," she remembered. Beckford described Murphy as "color blind" in an interview with the Irish Voice in October. "She never saw a difference in our colors. She treated me the same as everyone else." It was their friendship and a kind act that Murphy did for Beckford's son, Rudy, when he was a child that made the two neighbors inseparable. "Now, what will I do without my Murphy around," said Millicent sadly.Realizing that she has a wonderful way with people, Beckford has decided to search for work looking after the elderly. "This will keep me busy but I'll always be thinking of my Murphy and I know that she will be praying for me always," she adds.Murphy was buried with her husband Jack and her son John in St. Raymond's Cemetery in the Throgs Neck area of the Bronx on Monday, January 14.